Leading Contemporary Nigerian Artist, Abayomi Barber, Dies at 93

Yinka Olatunbosun

One of Nigerian renowned contemporary artists, Professor Abayomi Barber, is dead.

His death was announced yesterday by the Chairman of Lagos State chapter of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Kolawole Olojo-Kosoko.

The late artist and founder of the Abayomi Barber Art School is best known for his surrealist paintings and naturalistic sculptures. Barber rose to prominence from a relatively obscure beginning.

This was after his botched attempt to sail to England as a stowaway, which earned him the wrath of his maternal uncle, Oba Adesoji Aderemi (the then Ooni of Ife). It was while serving the Ooni’s punishment that fate brought him in contact with the former Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Based on Awolowo’s largesse, he got a scholarship to the United Kingdom, where he enrolled to study at the Central School of Arts and Craft in London in 1960. While in London, he also had stints with the Mancini and Tozer Studios and the Oscar Nemom studios.

Back to Nigeria, he was absorbed at the University of Lagos School of African and Asian Studies (now Centre for Cultural Studies) as an art fellow. It was at the university that he laid the foundation of what later became to be known as his informal art school in 1973.

Among his renowned works are the ‘Ali Maigoro’ sculptures and Yemoja paintings, which adorn the National Gallery of Art collection at the National Theatre in Lagos.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and acolytes.