Artist Bio

Adulphina Imuede was born on October 25th in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. During her early childhood, her family relocated to Lagos due to her father’s service in the Nigerian army. Growing up in a disciplined military household, she developed an interest in drawing to express unspoken emotions and desires.

Imuede pursued her passion for art academically, earning a Diploma in Creative Arts from the University of Lagos in 2012. She continued her studies at the same institution, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts with a major in Painting in 2016. She gained valuable experience through internships at SMO Contemporary Art from September to December 2016 and Red Door Gallery from February to December 2018.

Following her internships, Imuede dedicated herself to her art practice full-time. After this, she had her first solo exhibition in 2021 and her second in 2022, both with the Lagos-based Wunika Mukan Gallery. In addition, she participated in the Lagos International Art Fair, ART X Lagos, where she showcased in both group and solo booths in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Her work has also been featured at the 15th edition of the South African art fair, FNB Art Joburg, and several other international group exhibitions. Currently residing and working in Lagos, Adulphina Imuede remains committed to expanding her practice.

My practice is rooted in art's healing and therapeutic power, which I liken to a Midas touch, transforming reality's mundane and melancholic aspects into something tangible and comforting. My work draws inspiration from African representation, culture, femininity, spirituality, family, mental health, and identity. I aim to invite self-discovery and understanding in a world that often feels strange and materialistic.

With a romantic use of colour, I create stylised paintings featuring exaggerated heads, reflecting my love for portraiture and figuration. The eyes within these large heads convey emotions and a trance-like state of consciousness, narrating silent stories inspired by personal and collective experiences. Guided by the delicacy of femininity, personal destiny, and a connection to the innermost self, I infuse whimsical elements into my work. These elements serve as metaphors for the seriousness of reality, offering a lighter, more imaginative lens through which to process and navigate life's complexities.

As a painter and illustrator, I also consider myself a designer. I believe in the power of intentionally curating emotional experiences through art. My work serves as a tool for self-renewal, a means to navigate reality, life's challenges, and dreams. My creative process is liberating, allowing me to explore my inner landscapes. I invite those who engage with my work to examine their own inner worlds and find resonance in a shared human experience. I work with watercolour, acrylic, ink, oil, coloured pencils, gouache, and pastels on canvas and paper, which allows me to explore texture and remain curious about new possibilities.

Personal Statement

EDUCATION

University of Lagos. Akoka, Yaba

Nov. 2013 - Sept. 2016

B.A in Visual Arts 

University of Lagos. Akoka, Yaba

Oct.  2011 - Jun. 2012

Diploma in Creative Arts

WORK EXPERIENCE

Red Door Gallery

Feb. 2018 - Dec. 2018

Intern

SMO Contemporary Art

Sept. 2016 - Dec. 2016

Tour Guide/Intern

Universal Studios of Art. National Theatre, Lagos

Mar. 2015 - Sept. 2015

Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES)

EXHIBITIONS

Group Exhibitions

  • Pamphlets: Rele Gallery, Lagos. December 2024

  • Verdure: A Condition of Freshness Presented by Arushi Gallery + So Much Art. Los Angeles, CA. February 2023

  • Girls Run the World: Eclectica Contemporary. Cape Town, SA. August 2022

  • Intersecting Identities: Arushi Gallery. Los Angeles, CA. February 2022

  • Faces of The Homeland: African Art Wave. Coningsby Gallery, London. January 2022

  • Art On A Postcard by The Auction Collective. Curated by Mollie E Barnes. London, UK. September 2021

  • I Love Who You Are, I Love Who You Ain’t: Bill Brady Gallery, Miami, FL. August 2021

  • The Human Experience: The Project Space. Gallery Fanon, Johannesburg, SA. September 2020

  • Locality and The Status Quo: Wunika Mukan Gallery, Lagos. August 2020

  • Destiny: Alexis Gallery, Lagos. March 2019

Solo Exhibitions

  • Phases and Faces: Wunika Mukan Gallery, Lagos. July 2022

  • Higher Self: Wunika Mukan Gallery, Lagos. March 2021

Art Fairs

  • ART X Lagos 8th Edition. Solo Presentation, November 2023

  • FNB Art Joburg 15th Edition. Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, SA. September 2022

  • ART X Lagos 7th Edition. November 2022

  • ART X Lagos 6th Edition. November 2021

PUBLICATIONS / INTERVIEWS / FEATURES