After a nine-year hiatus, Damola Adepoju is back for another solo show, this time, at the Mydrim Gallery, on Norman Williams, Ikoyi, Lagos to showcase 30 works.

Over the years, he has featured in over 160 joint exhibitions in and out of Nigeria and two solo shows. He had his first show, Reflection of Lagos in 2005, his second, Seeing in Black and White in 2016. He’s staging his third solo, titled, Light.

This exhibition, which is expected to open from October 6 to 18, 2025, will showcase 30 carefully selected works created and reserved for the show each year since 2015. The collection features a mix of acrylic on canvas and mixed-mediation

In this body of work, Adepoju examines light across three key themes: knowledge, spirituality, and landscape. He described light as a powerful symbol of hope, direction, and revitalisation.

According to Adepoju, light is not the absence of darkness; rather, two parallel lines: much like positive and negative forces. He said the concept of light evoking hope is central to the exhibition. The works are predominantly monochromatic and mixed-media, with some balanced by vibrant impasto paintings of markets.

Adepoju often uses an elevated perspective to capture architectural structures and the city’s structural grid, distilling them into a visual rhythm of cultural memory. Other works explore the spiritual side of light.

Paintings such as Master Key (2024), Seek and You Shall Find (2020), and Unspoken (2020) evoke a connection to God and the idea that an enlightened understanding can fill one’s entire being with light. This embodies the profound dialogue between the body and spirit.

Light: A Beacon from Isale Eko is the painting that gave rise to the exhibition. He said the work emerged from a moment of profound darkness in the streets of Isale Eko and serves as a meditation on the transformative power of hope.

The composition masterfully balances a somber, gray-toned scene with a radiant, isolated source of light. The use of mixed-media collage with newsprint suggests that even in moments of despair, the community is built on shared narratives and documented realities.

The single, glowing light is a powerful symbol of resilience it signifies the individual’s responsibility to be a light bearer and create hope.

Another piece, Waiting, addresses issues within educational sector, exploring questions of government accountability and commitment to education. This work captures the visual honesty of the streets and serves as a conversation starter about how art can reflect and reshape the world.

Speaking, he said: “The exaggerated light in my paintings is not a denial of shadows but a command of light that creates a visual metaphor for a national consciousness aware of its shadows yet still capable of illumination.

“This exhibition is a profound journey, a collection of works that chart my artistic trajectory from 2015 to the present day. As I celebrate my 50th birthday, this show at Mydrim Gallery represents a fulfilled dream, a culmination of years of dedication, growth, and a deeply personal artistic evolution.

Speaking on hosting the artist, co-curator, Mydrim Gallery, Idowu Bankole, said: “We like consistency; I have biases for art works. The nature of Mr Adepoju made him a great artist to consider.”