We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Olayinka Temilade a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Olayinka , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from my deep passion for storytelling through thread and my belief that every stitch holds meaning. The process can be slow and demanding, but I see challenges as part of the journey. I also draw strength from my faith, my roots, and the support of those who believe in my work. That keeps me grounded and motivated to keep creating, even when things get tough.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
*I’m a thread artist who tells stories through fabric, thread, and texture.* My work is rooted in capturing emotion, memory, and identity each piece carefully stitched to reflect moments that often go unspoken. What excites me most is how something as delicate as thread can carry so much strength, culture, and personal meaning.
My art blends patience with precision, and there’s something powerful about watching an image slowly come to life, thread by thread. It’s a meditative process, and it connects me deeply to my heritage, my environment, and to people’s shared stories.
Right now, I’m working on a new series exploring softness, strength, and femininity through layered thread portraits. I hope to keep expanding my work’s reach and connect with more people through the language of thread.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, three qualities that have truly shaped my journey are *patience, intentionality, and storytelling*.
*Patience* is essential in thread art every piece takes time, and rushing the process takes away from the depth of the work.
*Intentionality* helps me stay grounded in the *why* behind each stitch. It’s not just about creating something beautiful, but about meaning, emotion, and message.
And *storytelling* learning how to translate feelings, memories, and identities into visual form has been the heart of my growth as an artist.
For those just starting out, I’d say:
Take your time to find your voice. Be consistent, even when you’re uncertain. And surround yourself with inspirational books, nature, culture, conversations. That’s where your ideas will bloom.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes, I’m definitely open to collaborations! I’m always excited to connect with *curators, galleries, fellow artists, or brands* who value storytelling, craftsmanship, and cultural expression through textile art.
Whether it’s an exhibition, a creative project, or something experimental, I’m interested in partnerships that allow both sides to grow and bring something meaningful to the table.
Anyone interested in collaborating can reach out to me via my email: [email protected] or Instagram handle: temilade_artworld and I’ll be happy to discuss ideas and possibilities.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/temilade_artworld?igsh=MW1pMDQyZzJ5dmIwZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A1v6XnqSo/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Twitter: https://x.com/temiladeart?s=21
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