Son of The Soil

Described as “mesmerising” by The Guardian, award-winning painter Abe Odedina makes his British Art Fair debut at the Saatchi Gallery this September with Son of the Soil, an exclusive solo exhibition as part of the Fair’s Solo Contemporary exhibition presented by curator Virginia Damtsa in collaboration with The African Art Hub.  

Architect turned self-taught painter Abe Odedina’s work, hailed as “vivid, layered and deeply human” by Harper’s Bazaar, has been shown in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the National Portrait Gallery following a Portrait Award nomination for his The Adoration of Frida Kahlo portrait, Somerset House, Carnegie Hall, and commissioned by British film royalty Danny Boyle.  

Abe’s art blends deities, cutting cultural commentary, and vibrant colour inspired by his Nigerian heritage to evoke universal human stories, ancient Yoruba Gods and his relentless fascination with all faiths. “I’ve never met a God I don’t like” says Abe. Instead of a canvas, Abe paints on board, plywood and materials akin to shop fronts to capture irresistible characters in acrylic. 

Abe’s artworks are a testament to the universality of the human experience, weaving the poetry of life with everyday miracles. Drawing inspiration from Haitian Voodoo practitioners, painters of the Sacred Heart, anonymous African craftsmen, and his daily walks in Brixton, Abe’s work revives and deconstructs classic themes. By blending ancient Greek and Yoruba mythologies with everyday life, he sparks dynamic narratives that bridge different eras and cultures.  

The African Art Hub comes to the British Art Fair for the first time this year, in collaboration with curator Virginia Damtsa to present Abe’s Son of the Soil exhibition. Abe says “I like to think that I come from a long line of African makers. I’m honoured to be in that tradition across the continent. It’s a continuum. The African Art Hub champions exceptional artists from Africa and the diaspora and is happy to collaborate for the first time with boundary pushing curator Virginia Damtsa to broaden its artist's roster". 

The African Art Hub and Virginia Damtsa present an unmissable opportunity to see Abe’s transcendent new work at the British Art Fair this September.  

THE COLLABORATION: The African Art Hub and Virginia Damtsa have collaborated to bring this remarkable exhibition to the British Art Fair. This partnership highlights the significance of cross-cultural collaborations in promoting contemporary African art. Virginia Damtsa, celebrated for her curatorial expertise and talent-spotting, and The African Art Hub, a leading e-gallery and platform dedicated to showcasing the works of incredible artists from Africa and the diaspora, have joined forces to create a memorable and enriching experience for art enthusiasts. 

ABOUT THE ARTIST: Abe Odedina (born 1960, Ibadan, Nigeria. Lives between London and Salvador Bahia) embarked on his artistic journey after a successful career in architecture, beginning his painting career on a transformative trip to Brazil in 2007. Odedina’s work is characterized by its exploration of common humanity through figurative propositions, reflecting his ideas, experiences, and emotions. His unique sense of colour is influenced by his Nigerian heritage, his life in London and his time spent in Salvador de Bahia. Odedina, in collaboration with The Underground Museum, Los Angeles received the 2017 Ellsworth Kelly Award from the Foundation of Contemporary Arts, New York.  

Solo exhibitions: I’m a Believer, Ed Cross, London, 2023; Independent Art Fair, New York (2023); You Give Me Fever, Diane Rosenstein, Los Angeles, (2022); Cutting Edge, Ed Cross at Clerkenwell Gallery, London (2021); Just Looking, Ed Cross at ArtX, Lagos, (2020); Birds of Paradise, Ed Cross at Copeland Gallery, London (2019); True Love, Ed Cross at The Department Store, London (2018); Say it Loud, Ed Cross at 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Somerset House, London, (2017);   Eye to Eye, Ed Cross at Copeland Gallery, London (2016);  Hi-Life, Brixton East (2014); Under the Influence, The Lookout, Aldeburgh (2013). 

Group exhibitions: When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town (2022); In the Beginning, Ed Cross Fine Art, Online (2021); Stop, Listen! CFHILL, Online (2021); Folk Art, London Art Fair, Online (2021); Art X Lagos, Online (2020); Diaspora, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham (2019); Get Up, Stand Up Now, Somerset House, London (2019); Talisman in the Age of Difference, Stephen Friedman Gallery (June 2018), Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy (2017), Brixton Design Trail, Street Gallery (2015); Global Artists Consortium, Knight Webb Gallery (2013); and BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London (2013).