Last week, we were pleased to welcome Adewale Kolawole John, a painter based in Ibadan, Nigeria, for a month-long residency at G.A.S. Lagos. His practice draws on the rich legacies of Yoruba traditional music, with a focus on juju. Through paintings informed by research and personal encounters with music, record sleeves, and performance histories, he creates textured portraits of Yoruba musicians in traditional attire, capturing not only their likeness but also the spirit and atmosphere of their soundscapes.
During his residency, Adewale will immerse himself further in Yoruba musical traditions, drawing on their rhythms, histories, and visual culture to develop a new body of work. He plans to produce five new paintings while deepening his engagement with the region’s musical heritage. His research will take him to record stores, bookstores, and cultural sites across South-West Nigeria, including the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, as well as to communities where juju music continues to thrive. He also plans to conduct research at the G.A.S. Library and the Picton Archive and visit key cultural institutions such as the Nike Gallery, John Randle Centre for Yoruba Art and History, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, and the National Museum Lagos. Through this residency, Adewale hopes to build stronger connections between painting, archives, and Yoruba musical traditions, while contributing to Lagos’s vibrant artistic and musical communities.
Adewale Kolawole in his studio. Image courtesy of L.Ogunde photography.
What is the current focus of your creative practice?
My practice is currently centred on exploring juju music, both as a sonic form and as a cultural archive. I am particularly interested in the ways in which its rhythms, lyrics, and visual accompaniments speak to broader Yoruba traditions of storytelling and identity. My paintings draw on these influences, attempting to translate the layered textures of juju music into visual language. This exploration allows me to connect past and present, paying homage to older traditions while considering their place within contemporary art and culture.
Adewale Kolawole in his studio with Kayode Adegbola, founder of Adegbola Art Projects. Image courtesy of L.Ogunde photography.
What drew you to apply for this residency and how do you think it will inform your wider practice?
I was drawn to the G.A.S. residency because it offers a unique environment where artistic production and cultural research can intersect. The opportunity to spend time in Lagos, a city with such a rich musical and artistic history, will expose me to archives, communities, and institutions that can enrich my practice in ways that working alone in my studio cannot. I believe the residency will serve as a catalyst to elevate my work to a new level, expanding the scope of my visual vocabulary and deepening my understanding of Yoruba musical heritage. It is also a chance to situate my work in dialogue with broader artistic and cultural discourses happening in Nigeria and beyond.
(L-R) Adewale Kolawole in his studio. Image courtesy of L.Ogunde photography.
Can you give us an insight into how you hope to use the opportunity?
I plan to use this residency as a period of exploration and experimentation, both in and outside the studio. Alongside creating new paintings, I want to engage deeply with Yoruba music—listening, observing, and learning from the environments in which it thrives. Visits to record stores, archives, and cultural sites will provide me with both material and conceptual inspiration. Equally important is connecting with people, musicians, collectors, and cultural custodians who carry living knowledge of this tradition. I hope that this immersion will allow me to broaden the scope of my practice, producing work that not only reflects my personal journey as an artist but also resonates with the wider histories and communities that shape Yoruba sound and culture.
About Adewale Kolawole
Adewale Kolawole John is a visual artist born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. His practice is rooted in an exploration of Yoruba traditional music, with a particular focus on juju and its cultural legacies. Through painting, he creates rich, textured portraits that often depict Yoruba musicians in traditional clothing, capturing not only their likeness but also the spirit and atmosphere of the sounds they produce. Adewale’s work is deeply informed by archival research and personal encounters with music, record sleeves, and performance histories, which he translates into layered compositions on canvas. By drawing inspiration from Yoruba soundscapes, he situates his practice at the intersection of memory, heritage, and contemporary visual expression.
Photo of Adewale Kolawole. Image courtesy of L.Ogunde photography
Adewale's residency is generously supported through funding from Adegbola Art Projects.
