O Yemi Tubi, a Nigerian born, the USA trained Artist, residing in the United Kingdom as an artist with a unique personal style. Most of his recent paintings were influenced by the political and social upheaval of the world today and the works of the Renaissance artists. He does not like artworks just for decoration but to evoke feelings.
He has exhibited his works around the world and received numerous awards and recognitions. O. Yemi works were awarded 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th places in political commentaries in American Art Awards from 2014 to 2019. He was recipient Golden Award with cash award in 2014 Master of Art International exhibition by Margarita Feaks Gallery, UK. He also received First Round Award with cash in Art Olympia 2015 International Open exhibition in Tokyo Japan.
Yemi’s work was awarded 1st Place (Best in Show) winner by Tall Sequoia Gallery, Toronto Canada in 2020. His works are one of the top 25 in the Fine Art category of Creative Quarterly Magazine and awarded 100 Best Annual 2019 Fine Arts Award Certificate. He works have been published in some Newspapers, Magazines, and art books. His works were published in 2019 ART Habens ArtReview, Biennial Edition published in Issuu Vol. 49; 2019 MURZE Arts Magazine; Issue 4, January/February Issue 2019 and 2019 Quotes: Inspirational Quotations / Creative Responses’ book.
His works were published in 2020 The March MASS: MATRIARCHY Monthly online Magazine,100 Best Annual 2019 for Fine Arts, Creative Quarterly International Art Magazine His works were published in 2018 ARTtour International Magazine ATIM’S Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art. Fine Art America published O. Yemi’s winning works in 2017 www.Huffingtonpost.com. “World’s Best political Painters” and “World’s Best celebrity Portrait Artists. His interview and some of his was published in Africa.com.
Yemi is a member of the Fine Art America, the Society of All Artists, AERA –the Association Embracing Realistic Art Circle Foundation for the arts and WCA- World Citizen Artists, and Langley Arts Council. International Association of Visual Artist.
Self-taught or art school?
Art School.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali.
How would you describe your style?
The theme of my works, in general, is “The Facts of Life: Roses and Thorns” Life is roses and thorns; sometimes it emanates the sweet aroma of pleasantness and sometimes it pricks and causes pains. I often use Roses and Thorns for portrait paintings of the facts of life of people. I first used Roses and Thorns in my political painting -The Bleeding Roses, since then I adopted Roses and Thorns as my own unique style in some of my paintings like Domestic Abuse, GELE (African Head Wrap): Vintage and Modern, Sensuality 1, Pain and Pleasure and others.
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
As an artist, I don’t like to use my works to just copy natures; I like my works to be creative and unique. My process of starting a project like a portrait commission, I will study the picture of my subject and ask questions about my subject’s life and occupation. I will use that information to create a unique portrait of my subject. I like to use the portrait paintings to tell the stories about my subjects as did with the portrait of Professor Wole Soyinka, 1986 Nobel Prize Winner in Literature in painting Soyinka: A Literary Icon, Portrait of the Artist and The Violinist.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My studio is in my house because I work round the clock. If I have my studio outside my house, I may never come home.
Is narrative important within your work?
Yes. I like to use my works to Evoke and Provoke emotions to promote positive change in our world of crisis. Therefore most of my works are narrative.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
I like figurative and realistic works of art this why I favoured the works of renaissance artists like Leonardo Da Vince, Michelangelo, and Raphael. I also love the works of Surrealistic artists like Salvador Dali.
What or who inspires your art?
My recent paintings were influenced by the political and social upheaval of our world today and the works of the Renaissance artists. As a political artist, the work of French painter Eugène Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People completed in 1830 influenced my first political painting “Arab Revolution.
Do you have any studio rituals?
My studio rituals are during normal working time for most people, I often do administration work like reading my postal mails and emails, looking for arts competitions and arts opportunities. I often do compositions of my works graphically on my computer; I don’t use sketch pads like old masters.
What are you working on currently?
I am working on the painting that is influenced by the Black Lives Matter protest.
Where can we buy your art?
From my Website: https://www.o-yemi-tubi.pixels.com and my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/oyemit
