We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Olamilekan Akinsola. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Olamilekan below.
Olamilekan , so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I keep my creativity alive by staying engaged with life. I surround myself with meaningful conversations, especially with friends who challenge my thinking and expand my perspective. I try to maintain positive energy and remain open to experiences, from attending exhibitions and artist talks to observing small everyday moments. Most importantly, I stay rooted in curiosity. For me, curiosity is the engine of creativity; it pushes me to explore new ideas, experiment with materials, and continually evolve as an artist.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a visual storyteller whose work explores the emotional and psychological landscape of being, particularly within the complexities of Nigerian life. I work primarily with charcoal, acrylic, oil, and burnt paper, using texture and gesture to create introspective figures that sit between fragility and resilience.
What excites me most about my practice is its ability to evolve with my inner world. My art is a space where spirituality, memory, and contemporary existence intersect. I’m drawn to the challenge of translating intangible experiences like thoughts, tensions, transitions into something visual, something that feels both familiar and otherworldly.
Recently, I’ve entered a period of introspection, almost an existential pause. I’m trying to understand my current state of mind and how it can open a new direction in my work. I’ve been researching, reflecting, and allowing myself to be uncomfortable enough to grow. This has pushed me toward a new body of exploration, one that stays true to my materials but digs deeper into psychological transformation and the quieter, often overlooked moments of becoming.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, three qualities have shaped my journey more than anything else.
The first is the ability to keep working regardless of circumstances. Art requires persistence. There were moments when things felt slow or unclear, but showing up consistently, sketching, experimenting, or simply thinking through ideas kept me moving forward.
The second is discipline and consistency in my practice. Growth doesn’t happen in bursts; it happens in the quiet, repetitive moments of doing the work. Staying consistent helped me refine my voice, deepen my technique, and build trust in my own process.
The third is a commitment to learning. Reading books, researching, and gathering knowledge have helped me understand the world around me and my place within it. The more I learn, the more I see, and the more honest my work becomes.
For emerging artists, my advice is simple:
Keep working, even when inspiration feels distant. Build consistency like a muscle, it will carry you when motivation doesn’t. And stay curious. Read, observe, listen. The more you understand life, the more truthful and powerful your art will become.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes, I’m always open to meaningful partnerships and collaborations. I’m interested in working with gallerists, curators, collectors, art dealers, and fellow artists, anyone who shares a genuine passion for creating or supporting thoughtful, impactful work. I’m also open to collaborating with individuals outside the traditional art world, especially those with ideas or projects they’d like to bring to life through visual storytelling.
Anyone interested in connecting can reach me through Instagram at @olamilekan.akinsola_ or via email at [email protected].
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