Ṣọlá Olúlòde

Ṣọlá Olúlòde (born 1996) is a British Nigerian artist. Her mixed-media work frequently celebrates relationships among Black queer women.

Early life and education

Ṣọlá Olúlòde was born in London in 1996.[1][2] She comes from a Nigerian family.[1][3]

In 2018, she graduated with a bachelor's in fine art painting from the University of Brighton.[1][2] She returned to London to pursue a career as an artist.[1]

Work

Olúlòde is known for her mixed-media work combining techniques and materials like painting, pastels, natural dying, and wax.[1] She is inspired by textile traditions such as batik and Yoruba adire.[2][4][5] Her pieces often feature monochromatic color schemes.[3]

Themes of Olúlòde's work include queerness and the lives of British Black women and nonbinary people.[1][4][5] She puts a particular emphasis on joyful, tender intimacies between women, drawing in part from her own experiences as a queer woman.[1][5][6][7][8]

Olúlòde's art has appeared in various U.K. galleries including the Carl Freedman Gallery and Lisson Gallery.[1][9] In 2022, she presented the solo show "Could You Be Love" at New York's Sapar Contemporary Gallery, followed by the 2023 solo show "Burning, like the star that showed us to our love" at the Ed Cross Art Gallery in London.[5][8] Her first solo exhibition in Nigeria, "Stars Fell on Lagos," appeared at the Wunika Mukan Gallery in 2025.[9]

In 2026, paintings by Olúlòde were featured in the exhibition "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art" at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C.[10][11][12] The works, Stitched to You (2022) and Eternal Light (2020), incorporate batik textile techniques.[10][13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "About Sola Olulode". Studio Voltaire. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  2. ^ a b c Murrell, Vanessa (2020-09-05). "Interview with artist Sola Olulode". DATEAGLE ART. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  3. ^ a b Little, Liv (2023-08-09). "Liv Little in Conversation with Sola Olulode on Burning, like the star that showed us to our love". Polyester. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  4. ^ a b "Sola Olulode". Sapar Contemporary Art Gallery. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  5. ^ a b c d ""Burning, like the star that showed us to our love": A shimmering, immersive exhibition by Sola Olulode". On Art. 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  6. ^ "ARTPOWHER Contemporary". VOLTA Art Fairs. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  7. ^ Jacob, Madeleine (2023-10-17). "Sola Olulode's Personal Orbit". ArtReview. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  8. ^ a b Moloi, Nkgopoleng (2022-12-06). "The Ethic of Love by Sola Olulode". The Art Momentum. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  9. ^ a b Nduka-Nwosu, Angel (2025-12-02). "Sola Olulode's Stars Fell On Lagos Exhibition Documents The Varied Experiences of Black and Nigerian Diasporan Life". MoreBranches. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  10. ^ a b Catlin, Roger (2025-01-15). "Nineteen New and Revamped Smithsonian Shows to See in 2025—Plus One Bonus That Will Make You Go Wild for Nature". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  11. ^ Kettner, Michele (2025-12-29). "19 New Exhibits Coming to the Smithsonian Museums in 2026". Northern Virginia Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  12. ^ Allen, Dan (2025-08-13). "Queer art faces widespread museum censorship, curators say". NBC News. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  13. ^ Goodman, Elyssa (2026-01-29). "This Groundbreaking New Showcase of Nearly 60 Works Is the Biggest-Ever Exhibition of LGBTQ+ African Art". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
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