Your series "Our Community" captures the essence of Lagos life, especially in Isale Eko. What inspired you to focus on this particular area?

I was born and brought up within the walls of Isale-Eko, Lagos Island. It holds a great influence to what my perspective of life and my art is today. Life as a Lagos-island boy only means that I must survive between the bustling and hustle of the over-crowded area, and when I wanted to start painting, what inspired me was the goal to historize my childhood experience and interesting upbringing in this notable area. 

In your work, you aim to highlight aspects of daily life that often go unnoticed. Can you share an example of a hidden detail you've brought to light through your art?

Just like my work "Kodak Moments" depicts people's daily life that goes unnoticed. I see people everyday who holds different stories untold. When i see them or listen to them, I got to realise that we all have similar (if not identical) realities.

Your use of oil and acrylic paints is notable. What draws you to these mediums, and how do they complement your artistic vision?

I tend to explore varieties of mediums in my early years to realise which could be
easy to portray or present my ideas. I find using oil and acrylic paints really complimenting to my style. Maybe in coming years, I might experiment other mediums, too.

As a Lagos-based artist, how does the city's vibrant energy and culture influence your work?

I travel to places outside Lagos. As an artist, I always look out for anything that has a sense of Lagos in it, because Lagos is the default for me. Unless it feels like the faces and buildings of Lagos, I hardly get inspired. Lagos is my first language, I always have to interpret other places into Lagos to appeal to my inspiration.

Your art often evokes feelings of nostalgia and community. How do you balance personal experiences with cultural and universal themes in your creations?

I learned a great deal from my recent travels across Africa. I realized that we are divided only by maps and borders—nothing more. Africans are fundamentally alike; we share the same reality, stories, migration experiences, and identity. I studied the African Diaspora—its history and culture—to learn more about the topics I discuss and the people my work represents. Nostalgia is a recurring theme when I listen to their stories. I long to live in their realities and feel what they are feeling, sometimes even through books (e.g., Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie, Second-class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta, and so on). I've experienced many different realities, even that of African Americans, although I can't claim to feel it as deeply as those who have actually lived it; I only have an understanding of it, which, in some ways, has become my reality as well.

The evolution of your style is evident over the years. How would you describe your artistic journey and growth?

My growth is an evidence of how much work I put into developing my practice. It hasn't been easy in any way, most especially when you come from a place I come from where success is a totally scarce commodity and you have to work for times more than a normal person. So the progress is a result of the sleepless nights and hungry days. As I grow, I learn more from those who we have so much in common when it comes to style or narrative. I look forward to mentorship from people who are profound in the art industry, because I could realise that I am just growing and I have so much to learn going forward.

Storytelling plays a crucial role in your art. How do you choose the narratives you wish to portray on canvas?

Yes, storytelling plays a crucial role in not just my art but art in general. Without stories there's ultimately nothing to tell with your art. I have a common theme that I learn to fetch from common sources, people's experience. I go to my subject and I listen to them, feel what they felt, and try to adopt that feeling, until it becomes a part of me, and I tell it in my own way, as my own story.

Looking ahead, are there any upcoming projects or themes you're excited to explore in your future works?

I want my future project to explores the unique bond between humans and the
ecosystem; the interconnection with other living things in their habitat, and how that
contributes to the general development of the ecosystem, spirituality, and psychology. Through research and expression, I aim to shed light on the spiritual and emotional connection that exists within these relationships, challenging stereotypes, and promoting dialogue on mental health, possession, identity, and spirituality.

For those new to your art, which piece would you recommend they start with to truly understand your artistic message?

For those new to my art, I'll tell them to see "Shared Tenderness", but "Social Inhabitants," is where I belief my voice would grow to represent.