olalekan Kushimo

His unique style of art known as Ila, meaning lines or patterns, can be traced to ancient language and tribal marks in West Africa, combined with other historical symbols from different tribes of Africa.  Olalekan has been able to recreate his own English alphabet representation with the African language and patterns to engage his clients and art lovers who find his work fascinating. Based on his favorite quote by Christopher Alexander describing ‘patterns as a problem that occurs in a given environment, and in it is a solution that can be used multiple times, without using it the same way to form an impression’ is the inspiration behind his art style.

In 2020/21, he began to introduce his patterns into fashion; shoes, clothes and sneakers and featured international model Shaun Ollison in one of his cloth design, as his craft began to gain audience from his online stores. The introduction of Ila also grew popular in Nigeria and won him a Special Recognition Award in 2021 via an award platform that celebrates arts and culture all around the world.

His move to the United Kingdom in 2022 drew his attention to Belfast and its wall murals, and in seeking to engrain himself in the culture, he enrolled himself with a business mentor at The Ortus Group. Following that, he became a member of the a-n artist as well, to aid his plan(s) to introduce and build his arts and online store in the United Kingdom. He one day hopes to have one or more of his murals grace the walls around Belfast city.

He gradually began his journey to gain recognition in the art space by participating in his first group exhibition in London, then Barcelona, New York, Paris and Athens. He also had other digital art shows with Artbox Project in 2023, which attracted customers from Vienna, and Austria; where he sold one of his paintings (The Gaze) and was also commissioned for another painting for same customer.

He steadily introduced himself to the community as a facilitator at Family Comfort NI, registered in an online platform Superprof as an art tutor. He also organized a few Drink and Draw sessions with the help of locals to familiarize himself with the community at large. Reviews and feedback of his amazing talent encouraged him further to have his own solo exhibition in Belfast whilst also working part-time, but that never discouraged him from creating designs and paintings for his October 2024 solo exhibition at the Arts for All gallery, Belfast.

Now with his newly registered company in Northern Ireland and interest from designers who are fascinated by his art style, witnessed at the exhibition, he plans to re-establish and reintroduce himself to a wider audience through his art.