Pioneer Nigerian Artist, Pa Timothy Fasuyi, Dies at 87

Yinka Olatunbosun

One of the founding fathers of Nigerian art and art educationist, Pa Timothy Adebanjo Fasuyi is dead. The sad incident occurred on January 27. He was one of the pioneer students of Nigeria College of Arts and Science now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, an art teacher, painter, sculptor and former federal art adviser who took over from late Ben Enwonwu in 1969. 

He established the first cultural centre in Nigeria, TAFAS Cultural Centre, Ikeja Lagos and was instrumental to the development of art and culture in Nigeria.

Born in April 1935, in Ilesha, Osun State, he obtained his first Diploma in Fine Arts at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science & Technology, Zaria, 1959 now Ahmadu Bello University with specialization in painting. His second diploma in art education was obtained at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA and he also studied a course in art education at the University of Sydney, Australia, 1971. 

The pioneering artist, also known as the Baba Ijo St. Saviours Anglican Church Ilesa, began teaching in 1960 and served as art education officer at the King’s College, Lagos. In addition, he took the position of an art adviser to the Nigerian government and was a Founding member of the Society of Nigerian Artists. 

Some of his early group exhibitions include “Inaugural Exhibition of the Society of Nigerian Artists,” Exhibition Centre, Lagos, in 1964. “Contemporary Nigerian Art: Exhibition for Ori-Olokun Opening,” Ori-Olokun Cultural Centre, Ile-Ife in 1968. “Contemporary Nigerian Art,” Commonwealth Institute Art Gallery, London in 1968. “Contemporary Nigerian Prints and Paintings,” Fourth Ife Festival of the Arts, Gallery of the University of Ife Library, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, in 1971. “Offerings from the Gods,” National Theatre, Lagos, June-July 1985. “Silver Jubilee National Art Exhibition,” National Theatre, Lagos; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; as well as Lugard Hall, Kaduna, in 1985. 

As a scholar, his writings include Cultural Policy in Nigeria, published in 1973. He was a recipient of the Australian Commonwealth Scholarship in 1971;  and a Fellow of Asele Institute, Nimo in 1985.

His son and former investment banker, Wale Fasuyi named the art gallery in GRA Ikeja “Tim&Carol” after his parents and in memorial of Pa Fasuyi’s legacy in Nigerian art.