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 the healing and therapeutic power of art. I think of this as a Midas touch transforming the mundane and melancholy of reality into something beautiful and comforting. I create dreamscapes accompanied by a romantic use of colour, informed but not limited to African representation, culture, diversity, spirituality, family, mental health, and celebrating/embracing identity. I aim to invite self-discovery and understanding in a world that can often feel strange and material. With stylised and exaggerated drawings reflecting my love for figurative illustrations, I am guided by the delicacy of femininity and a deep connection to the innermost self, bringing a whimsical element to my work.
I am a painter and illustrator, and I also like to say that I am a designer because I believe that the ability to intentionally curate an experience of emotion is art. My work is a tool for self-renewal, a way to navigate reality, life's challenges, and dreams. I consider my creative process freeing and filled with curiosity, immersing me in imaginative realms and allowing me to investigate my inner landscapes. I also invite those who experience my work to examine their inner landscapes and find resonance in our shared human experiences. 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 exploring materials.
Personal Statement
EDUCATION
Mimaster School of Illustrations, Italy
Sept. 2024 - Nov. 2024
Certificate in Picture Book Illustration
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
ART X Lagos 8th Edition Solo Presentation Catalogue
Foxylab New York - Adulphina Imuede: the art of believing in miracles
More Branches #ArtInFocus
Channels Television: “Phase and Faces” Solo Exhibition by Adulphina Imuede
“Phases and Faces” Solo Exhibition Catalogue
Okay Africa: Meet the Female Artists Making Waves in the Nigerian Art Scene
African Art Wave Interview
Those African Chicks: Exploring Identities of African Women