Brooklyn based Nigerian born painter Doba Afolabi is AfrobeatRadio’s IIAFestival 2024 featured artist. Visit AfrobeatRadio’s Booth 72, featuring his works titled “Benin Is Watching” and “Urban Symphonies”.
Doba Afolabi, as he prefered to be called due to his usually lenghty African names, was known with his full name Adedeji Adedoba Afolabi while he studied at Ahmadu Bello University Nigeria, catching with the spirit of the Zaria art avant garde tagged the ‘Zaria Rebels’, a style of the famous Zaria art school where he graduated with Bachelors of Art.
Doba worked as graphic artist with the British overseas development of the UN and taught at Yaba College of technology in Lagos Nigeria prior to his coming to New York. His success at several exhibitions and the academics propelled his momentum. His ‘Women’s Day’ won a regional poster project with the WHO and it was placed at several centers around the country and beyond.
He is proud of his first Solo exhibition tagged ‘Buffalo Soldier’ in 1999 at the art district of North East Miami in Florida through the introduction of his ‘American godfather and benefactor, Professor Joseph Mcnair , and several other shows curated by Ludlow Bailey Asmar B Art Gallery that launched his fame among the scholars thereby initiating him as a relevant force at the annual Black History Month art shows at the Florida International University. Doba later extended his tents far and wide enough to be recognized at the popular 2001 Brooklyn Fulton art Fair by his mentor and spiritual father, Otto Neal.
His fame continued to soar among notable galleries after working briefly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the City Human resources preceeding several show features alongside the art biggies most especially at the great old Dorsey Gallery that produced the likes of Romare Bearden, Otto Neal, and Dr Ojo who connected him with Emmit Wigglesworth, Danny Simons and many other art icons in New York.
Doba Afolabi has been one of the notable official artists of Soul Basel ArtAfrica Miami and well known to the city of Miami Dade County Tourism where his piece served as a page headline for Basel visitors directory.
He was hailed in rousing accolades while he performed live painting to the admiration of hundreds of dignitaries at Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce Gala Night in Hilton on Bizcayne Ballroom Miami where he was invited as the official artist .
There have been series of media coverage on Doba Afolabi works from Miami Herald to Washington Post through his major handler in Washington DC; Zenith Gallery who sold his work “Washington Jam” to Washington DC state acquisition. Doba Afolabi was inducted lately as a selected artist in Department of State Art in Embassies Program, where his piece “MidDay Market I” has been transported to American Embassy in Guinea for an art show while his ongoing art shows can be viewed in Amsterdam Whitney Gallery New York
Several Galleries from NewYork to UK , Africa to Middle East and beyond bear the works of Doba Afolabi who is noted among prominent artist in Brooklyn. The record of contemporary artist in Diaspora will always include Doba Afolabi whose works have been at popular auctions
like Tom Joyner, AmrefUSA, Artsy online, Empire show through Gallery Guichard Chicago, and a couple of others while he has been mentioned among artists like Derrick Adams, Toyin Odutola, Danny Simons, Wangeshi Mutu and prominent others major Afro contemporaries. One of his biggest accomplishments according to him has been the acquisition of his 2 major pieces of 12 feet apiece, collected by OneUnited Bank California.
Education:
1992
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Nigeria
B.A Painting
1985
University Of Ife (Adeyemi College) Nigeria
National certificate in Education(Fine Arts)
EXHIBITIONS:
2019
Amsterdam Whitney Gallery Chelsea New York
USA Department of State Art in Embassy show Guinea Conackry
2018
ArtHouseNY@Reddot Art BaselMiami
SeeMe Art Basel Miam
Art Africa Miami
Brooklyn comes to Basel @Hamptons Ocean Drive Miami
2017
AmrefUSA Auction
Art Basel Miami ArtAfrica
2016
Art Village Memphis TN
Calabar Gallery.Harlem
Lloyds International W57 NY
2015
Restoration Plaza Brooklyn NY
Zenith Gallery Washington DC
2014
Window at Amsterdam Gallery City College New York Mackey Gallery NY
Tom Joyner Cruise
2013
Jazz Festival New Orleans
Pfizer World Headquarters NY Black History Month Show Damon Dash Gallery Tribeca NY
Curated show at Amsterdam Window Gallery, City College New York Gallery Guichard Chicago
2012
Art Africa Basel Miami
Art of Black Miami
Smack Melon Brooklyn
Bombay Sapphire Rush Gallery NY
2011
African American Museum Long Island New York
FELASPIRATIONS at 946 Fulton Brooklyn New York Innovative Gallery Atlanta Georgia
2010
Dorsey Art Gallery Brooklyn
Damon Dash Gallery Tribecca Manhattan New York
ARTCURIAN Gallery Brooklyn New York
39th African International Art Fair New York (Official Artist) 2009
Dorsey Gallery Brooklyn New York
2006
First Great Port Jefferson Juried Art Show New York
2005
Metropolitan Museum Of Art Manhattan New York Staff Show
2001
Florida Internatioal University Black History Month Miami Florida 2000
Florida International University Black History Month
Asmar B Art Gallery Miami Florida
Roka Gallery NE Miami Florida
1999
Professor Agyeman Buffalo Soldier Art Show Miami Florida 1997
Colors and Forms Goetthe Institute German Embassy Lagos Nigeria 1993
Patrons Art Exhibition Kuru Jos Nigeria
1992
Bachelors of Arts Final Year Art Show Ahmadu Bello University Nigeria
1990
Academic Press Art Exhibition Lagos Nigeria
1985
Adeyemi College National Certificate In Education Nigeria Final Year Art Show AWARDS
Artist of the year 2010 ,
39th Africa International Art Fair New York
First Prize; Port Jefferson Art Council Juried Art Show Long Island New York
-9178930415
Gallery Representation;
Amsterdam Whitney Gallery Chelsea,
Gallery Guichard Chicago,
Zenith Gallery Washington DC,
Fash Leeds UK
TerraCotta Atlanta
Online;
Fineartamerica.com
Saatchi.com
Artsy.com