For third year remembrance, Grillo’s legacy glows in ‘Never Seen’ art

About 15 works of art, including paintings, mosaic and sculptures from the collection of the late master artist, Yusuf Grillo, were unveiled, to celebrate his legacy. Grillo was an internationally revered visual artist and scholar, who passed away on August 23, 2021 at the age of 86 after a brief illness.

The late Grillo, with a complex named after him at the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), until retirement, was the Head of Department of Fine Art.

Speaking at the posthumous exhibition, titled, ‘Yusuf Grillo: Like You’ve Never Seen’, Executive Director, Grillo Art Limited, Morayo Anthonio, explained that the show was to keep Grillo’s memory alive by remembering his legacy in the art industry.

“It is quite exciting to have them preserved for posterity’s sake, and maybe the works could have just been thrown away, but he kept them,” Anthonio spoke to guests shortly before the exhibition opened.

She disclosed that some of the works for the exhibition were first created as parts of the commission works Grillo did in his lifetime.

She said that her father would always be remembered for his investment in the art industry and positive impacts in the lives of his students, mentees and family members.

Anthonio, the eldest daughter of Grillo, observed that the art industry is becoming more vibrant especially with the advent of social media.

She, however, urged the upcoming generations to remain committed to their calling as artists and express themselves through their craft.

“You need to focus on your craft and discover your creativity first before you begin to focus on the commercial aspect. A lot of artists don’t do this before starting to push things out with the hope that it will fetch them a quick dollar,” she advised.

While stressing the importance of arts to human existence, she noted that it is the sum total of who we are as a people, adding, “it is a spiritual thing which goes with religion, culture etc. It is life and not just a field of study. As long as people are on the earth, there would always be art.”

In his remarks, the curator of the exhibition, Kehinde Sanwo, affirmed that the late Grillo was one of the fathers of modern art in Nigeria, adding that his artworks are being appreciated both nationally and internationally.

He said: “This is a groundbreaking posthumous exhibition to unveil some of the new works that are available that the late Grillo left behind and the plan is to share it for the public to see. We are exhibiting fifteen works, in which nine of them are the ones that are yet to be seen. The other six include those that have been shown in the public such as commission works, altar stool carvings and maquettes for sculpture piece, all of which he did while he was alive.”

One of the mentees of the late Grillo, Kolade Oshinowo, reflected on his personal interactions and how it shaped his journey into the arts industry.

“He was a man who allowed me to stand on his shoulders to be able to look into the horizons,” Oshinowo recalled his Yabatech experience of working with Grillo.

“If anybody will do that for another human being, you should hold that person in high esteem. Yusuf Grillo elevated so many people without thinking about personal gain, which is a major legacy he passed on to all of us.”

As much as Grillo’s legacy is in the visual arts, writing and design skills were the other parts of the late artist not visible to many of his admirers, according to one of his closest associates, Gboyega Ogunojemite. He recalled how Grillo’s writing and design skills were applied across social and political spaces.

Jerome Elaiho, a professional colleague and close family friend of the Grillos, also eulogised the late artist for being a rare Nigerian who stood for firmness. Elaiho noted that Grillo lived ahead of his time.

Shortly before declaring the exhibition open, one of Africa’s prominent art collectors, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, commended the Grillo family for expanding the late artist’s legacy.

Shyllon argued that accumulation of wealth without leaving a legacy that makes impact on people’s lives amounts to nothing.

Grillo graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1960. He had earlier trained as a draughtsman at the Federal Survey Office before going to study art. His exceptional drawing skills would later play a vital role in his art career.