Arts are like shades of life – from the show of the thumping heart on an elated face, to the image of the evaporating soul of a distressed one, all find their ways in woven means, to tell, to show, and to make us become. It should be noted that Africa has been a chest of invaluable traditional arts, even before the advent of colonialism, and against the myths and misinformation, African arts started evolving as the ages go by. Our Contemporary arts cease to wane, just like our artists, too. One of these contemporary African artists – a revered painter and innovator is, Kolawole Akintola Ezekiel.

On October 17, 1962, revered Nigerian artist, Kolawole Akintola was born in Okeho, Oyo State. His artistic spark could never be argued to be genetic as this was inherited from his family. Complementing this was his environment, which was an abode of astute traditional art works of diverse forms, ranging from painting, to sculpturing, among others. As his life progresses, he was accosted by Human Kinetics, with the deeper focus and bases in Anatomy, and Physiology. This experience was later relevant to the shaping of his creative philosophy, and innovation.

Kolawole Akintola’s in depth and adept experiences in conceptual arts span over four decades. Hence, the bringing to life of the “Vein Painting.” This artistic approach by Kola is a twist of his science background in Human Kinetics, and his ingenious artistic creativity. Beyond the visual appeasement, his arts are explorations of life’s intricacies, human values, and the media. He is well-known, and respected for his ability to turn “trash into treasures and rubbish into rubies.”

His works have been studied in universities both in Nigeria and abroad, including the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan, Lagos State University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, and Colorado University in the United States. His ideas emerged from an effort to merge his early background in human kinetics, which focuses on tangible forms, with his later training as an artist, which explores representation—not in the sense of photography, but through the perspective of Foucault’s ideas on nature and existence. He investigates how things take shape and hold meaning within specific moments and spaces, treating them as distinct realities.

In no doubt, exhibitions are platforms meant not to showcase the versed nature of arts alone, but the celestial creativity of artists. In diverse solo exhibitions, both locally, and internationally, Kolawole’s ingenuity has been shown to the world. Notably, in 1997, Kolawole Akintola gained international recognition through his exhibitions at UNESCO (USA) and The British Council in Kano. Among other years, again,remarkably, in 2015, he showcased his giant strides, and progress in conceptual arts. He’s got the platforms of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Franchise and the U.S. Embassy in Lagos,Dubois Centre to showcase his artistic adeptness. From Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Côte d’lvoire, Kola’s works have travelled far, via exhibitions and other routes.

Akintola doesn’t just display his work; he actively cultivates artistic communities through workshops and residencies. In 2014, he engaged with the Global Crit Foundation for Contemporary Art at the Dubois Centre in Accra, Ghana. Earlier, in 2011 and 2012, he immersed himself in the Laboratorio Arts Contemporains (Mains Croisées) in Cotonou, Bénin. His 2009 workshop at Alliance Française, Ibadan, celebrated Francophonie Week through creative art. Notably, his “Transmission of Knowledge” initiative, which began in West Africa in 2012 and expanded to Kigali, Rwanda in 2022, highlights his dedication to fostering intellectual and artistic growth.

His zeal for nurturing talent shines through his mentorship programs, where he’s conducted creative art workshops for students and teachers across Nigeria, effectively shaping the next wave of inventive artists. His artistic imprint extends to the literary realm as evidenced by his illustrations in publications such as Debo Ajibade’s “Wheat and Seed,” (2011), Rev. Teju Oni’s “Attaining Your Distinguished Position” (2012). He was mentioned in the brochure of “Life In My City 2014 Edition” He honoured Michael Oladosu at his book launch, “Every Little Thing That Moves.” Akintola was a guest lecturer at the Ibadan Book Club Busari Agbolade Memorial Lecture. These, among numerous literary gatherings, underscoring his conviction in championing artists regardless of their standing or chosen medium.

Kola Akintola’s commissioned pieces, held in high esteem, grace both private collections and public institutions globally. In 2001, he created a metal foil relief portrait of Papa Adekunle Ajasin at his mausoleum in Owo, Ondo State. Among his notable endeavors are the 2009 metal foil etching commissioned by the Kajola Community, a tribute to a retiring First Bank Nigeria CEO, and the 2005 installation at 2a Lishabi Crescent, University of Ibadan, a project funded by the McArthur Foundation. In 2004, he produced a delicate pen and ink work on rice paper for the Office of the President, McArthur Foundation, USA. Further demonstrating his versatility, he has crafted logos and functional designs, artworks for Charles Dickens International School in London, and a portrait of Holy Mary and St. John executed in acrylic fiber for St. Paul’s Cathedral, Thamesmead, London.

His contributions to the art world have garnered the attention of esteemed figures within the African art community. Bruce Onabrakpeya, a luminary in Nigerian visual arts, graced Akintola’s solo exhibition at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, in 2016, a clear indication of his burgeoning influence. Akintola’s artistic philosophy is deeply rooted in a Foucauldian framework, wherein he reimagines “imaging” beyond the confines of mere photography, perceiving it as an evolving representation of truth across time and space. His work serves as an experimental nexus, bridging art and life, form and media, and artistic innovation with academic discourse.

In recent years, Akintola has utilised his platform to champion the financial and professional advancement of Nigerian artists. At his most recent exhibition at Alliance Française, Ibadan, he underscored the necessity for artists to embrace entrepreneurial and marketing principles to maximise the intrinsic value of their creative output. He posits that numerous Nigerian artworks, though often undervalued domestically, possess the potential to command substantial sums internationally, provided they are strategically positioned. To this end, he orchestrates lectures and discussion sessions alongside his exhibitions. Recent sessions featured industry experts such as Mr. Femi Akande, a lecturer at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who expounded on the monetisation of artworks, and Mr. Anthony Enadeghe from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Ile-Ife, who emphasised the pivotal role of technology in artist development. Mr. Johann Robinet, director of Alliance Française, has reaffirmed the center’s dedication to supporting artists like Akintola in their pursuit of global recognition.

Kola Akintola has become a prominent contemporary artist, renowned for his skillful techniques and impactful themes, particularly in promoting African artistic expression. In the summer of 2024, he contributed to an art residency in Ouidah, Benin, organised by Laboratorio, honouring the late Tatiana Carmine. Furthering his commitment to art’s role in progress, he participated in the “Art for Economic Development” workshop in February 2025, a collaboration between Integration Palace and Nigeria Customs. Akintola’s guiding principle, that artistic potential exists in everyone, regardless of background, fuels his dedication to expanding the boundaries of art. His favoured maxim, “Everybody is an artist, and not every artist can be a great one, but a great artist can come from anywhere,” encapsulates his core belief—that art is a universal language, and greatness can emerge from the most unexpected of origins; just like the words of a Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, “It’s possible to do great things from a small place.”