Brushstrokes of brilliance, delving into artist, Eyitayo Alagbe’s creative mind

The Constance and Sons Gallery is one of the few galleries that are dedicated to promoting artists and their works, providing a platform for both emerging and established artists to display their talent to the world. Artists are a special breed whose creative works often stun the world. This piece explores the works of some talented artists in the world and delves into their minds to understand the inspiration behind their masterpieces. This piece is a fulfillment of the vision of the Chief Executive Officer, Constance and Sons Gallery, Dunmade Ayegbayo, who wants to create a space that displays the best of artistic talent from across the globe. In this interview, we uncover the hidden gems of the art world and explore the mind of Eyitayo Alagbe, one of the finest artists in Nigeria and across the globe.

Tell us about your background and how you got into art?
I grew up in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, but relocated to Ibadan later. I love drawing. I have always been a talented artist as far as I can remember. It was a burning passion and talent I could not ignore. I started drawing as a kid, but my dad, like most African parents, did not like it. I guess he felt the field was not lucrative enough or would not earn me the prestige that professionals earn from their jobs. I cannot answer that correctly, but he preferred to see me read. I remember he seized my drawing jotter several times and I felt bad. I could not stop painting. It was more than a hobby for me, but he would never understand.

I lost my mom early. It was painful and depressing. I felt lonely and isolated, like I was the only person in the world. There was no one to talk to, no shoulder to cry on and no one to share my grief with. No one would understand the depth of my pain, so I internalised it. It was like a storm deep within. It was hell!

Her shop became my studio. I stayed there all day and immersed myself in my art. That was my only company, my only way of escaping the mystery of her death. So, I preferred to draw rather than talking to anyone. I could talk to it and express myself as much as I wanted on the material before me.

My brother was my number one fan: he loved my works and motivated me. I drew for him and myself. Those were my first audience. I gained admission into Emmanuel Alayande College of education Oyo to studied fine and applied art in 2016. That is where I developed my artistic skills and graduated with distinction in 2019. I relocated to Ibadan in 2020 to learn more under the tutelage of Mr. K

Peluola who was a great help to me. I observed some of his works and improved drastically. Later I decided to create artworks in a unique way. The style of expression was mine.

What is art to you?
Art is subjective: it means different things to different people. But for me, it’s the expression of one’s inner feelings and creative idea and it’s funny that we all have it, but few of us explore it. That’s why we are called artists. Everyone can be an artist because we all have that creative force in us although our outlets might be different. Some people express their creativity through music, spoken words, poem, painting and writing, but I use painting. We all do similar things in different ways. We are all artists.

What inspires you to create your art?
The African society is full of stories yet untold. We have lost some to history; some of our artefacts were carted away by colonial master, but there are many stories to tell. We are so blessed with a rich culture that we haven’t even explored fully yet. We have to tell our stories our own way. Our lifestyle, religion and daily activities are unique stories that must be told by us to the world so they can know who we are instead of telling us who they think we are.Nollywood is doing a great work in that area, but we need other means.

Therefore, I have to play my role. My immediate environment and the music I listen to also play a huge role in my art. Music is a secret message to the heart and art is made from the heart. So, when my heart resonates with a particular piece of music, it reflects in my art.

Are there specific themes or concepts that you explore?
Humanity. I believe humanity is a story to be told, a puzzle to solve and a mystery to be unraveled. You can never exhaust it. As an introvert, my works speaks more about introverted personalities; people who struggle to find the right words to express their struggles, pain and dilemma. I also explore issues like black power, happiness, pain, and some sociopolitical issues.

I believe there is more to the black man than his natural strength. It seems the western culture has sold the story that the black man’s advantage is his physique. We have heard it for so long that we are beginning to accept and internalise it. However, it is far from the truth. We are intelligent and creative and we have to tell ourselves to avoid being brainwashed. Pain and happiness are inevitable realities of life; they will happen. People experience them. My works tell people that they are not alone when they have these experiences.

Childhood is a mystery: it determines what we become as adults, and we all go through it. It seems to be the most important phase of our lives. So, I love to talk about children in other to give them a sense of belonging in the society.

How would you describe your creative process, from the initial idea to the finished artwork?
We think differently. Some people, maybe writers and others, think in words, but I think in pictures. My mind grasps concepts in a pictorial way so I present them in that manner.

I also take my time to study my environment, and create artwork that I was inspired. I make sketches on my canvas or paper and start to paint with my materials that can be acrylic, oil charcoal and pastes one after each other to make detail representations of my thoughts.

Can you discuss any particular techniques or materials that you use in your art?
I am a mixed media artist. I use different materials in my works, which are Charcoal, Pastel, Acrylic and oil on canvas.

How do you stay motivated and continue to grow as an artist?
I love art. It makes me happy. Doing it gives me joy and enthusiasm. My motivation comes from doing it. Growth is a lifetime pursuit. It’s a never-ending journey; and I believe mastery hastens it. The more you practice something, the better you become- there is no shortcut. Art is an expression of one’s inner feelings. Even if am down to zero, I think and document my thoughts. You can’t take that away from me, it is personal. It keeps me going.

Can you discuss any challenges or obstacles that you have faced in your career as an artist, and how you overcame them?
Getting buyers and collectors is a great challenge. People don’t appreciate artworks as much as they should. Some individuals believe it’s nonessential – that it’s a luxury product and that affects their disposition to it. Finding gallery representation is another challenge. It’s not easy to get a gallery that believes in the authenticity and originality of your work. A gallery that believes it’s worth a try- that people would love it and buy it. It’s always stressful. There is the challenge of getting quality materials too. This challenge varies with location. I overcame it by relocating from Ogbomosho to Ibadan to get materials at my fingertips. It is even easier now that we can now buy art materials directly from overseas shipped down to Nigeria, but it wasn’t like that some years’ back.

How do you ensure that your work remains original and distinct from other artists in your field?
Originality comes from you. We are all original, so anything that comes from our true self is real- it’s never a duplicate. Just be real. Every artist has their distinct procedure but the way I render my charcoal of the African black skin, and the color splash on the faces of my subject, which symbolises the real life experience and situations, makes my works distinct. It’s my style, it is me. I just have to express myself freely without looking at anyone or try to see what is selling in the market right now.

Are you open to collaboration with other artists?
Yes, I can work with other artists. If music artistes can do that, why not? We can produce great works together. I believe the fusion of our creativity would create something even superior.

How do you use social media or other digital platforms to promote your work and connect with your audience?
Social media is a powerful tool. Never in human history has it been easier for artists to show the world our skills and works. I mean it’s awesome! You can sell directly to anyone anywhere in the world via social media. So I use it a lot, especially Instagram. I believe it’s the most suitable social medium for my line of work.

How do you see the role of art in society and how do you hope to contribute to it through your work?
Art is a great tool to influence the society. You can change narratives through art. You can create awareness or start a campaign through art. You can connect deeply with people through art. You can address your pain and heal through art- that is art therapy. It’s huge but under-explored. It contributes to peoples’ happiness, wellness and overall quality of life. The aesthetics it gives alone brightens your mood. I can’t go into the psychology behind it, but a lot of collectors said that.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting?
Be patient, be passionate and be persistent. Work more on yourself and your creative skills. Work hard. In addition, work smart. The Constance and Sons Gallery serves as proof of the captivating and influential nature of art. By bringing together artists, collectors, and fans, the gallery has become a central location for imaginative expression. Whether displaying emerging talents or established masters, the gallery offers a space for exceptional artistic abilities to shine.