An Icon’s Journey

Segun Adeku Biography And Portfolio

Get to know one of the foremost etching printmakers in Nigeria

Segun Adeku Biography and Portfolio

Segun Adeku was born in Jan,1949. He’s a neo-traditional artist reknown amongst the early Osun-oshogbo artist for printmaking. He has held over 17 solo exhibitions in Nigeria, Europe and America. His works can be found in galleries, museums and auction houses across these continents.

He is one of the foremost etching printmakers in Nigeria, amongst the likes of Bruce Onabrakpeya, David Dale & Thomas kwaye. In recent decades he masterly expressed himself in paintings. His works are known for onaism, signature smiles and little people. His career has traveled him widely.

“Happiness I believe is a choice. The decision to see the brighter side of life while dimming the grey”

Segun's Statement

I express through art my deep seated belief in happiness and Joy being a choice available to all and shared among people. My works focuses on human relationships and the cord of interdependence that ties all together. My works are never in isolation because I believe the best is expressed within the context of relationship. I would be exhibiting my works at Orilafinju where I espoused unequivocally yet humorously that the head (Mind of Man) is the origin of beauty, happiness and Joy.

Trainings | Awards | Reviews

Largely self-taught; worked with Ademola Williams and Tijani Mayakiri; influenced by Bruce Onobrakpeya. Profile: Operated African Cultural Art Gallery with Adekunle Adetimikan, 1972; works in his Olokun Art Studio, Ile-Ife and maintains a gallery opposite the Ife Museum of Antiquities, Ile-Ife; his art works have been used to illustrate several book covers in Nigeria and Denmark; his media are deep-etched print drawing, batik, and calabash carving. Solo Exhibitions at the Department of Fine Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1975. Department of Fine Arts, University of Ife, Ondo Campus, 1975.

British Council, Kaduna, 1977. “Segun Adeku Art: Deep Etching, Prints and Batiks Exhibition,” American Cultural Centre, Ibadan, April 19-23, 1982. Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 1983. French Cultural Centre, Lagos, 1985. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, lbadan, 1986. “An Exhibition of Deep Etchings, Paintings and Metal Works,”Italian Cultural Institute, Lagos, April 20-23, 1987. French Cultural Center, Cotonou, Benin, January 20-February4, 1989. “Kunst aus Nigeria,” Rathaus, Hofheim, Germany, July 16-30, 1989. “Nigerianische Kunst von Segun Adeku,” Kurhaus, Konigstein, Germany, August 7- 20, 1989.

French Cultural Center, Cotonou, Benin, November 26-December 8, 1990. Group Exhibitions Afro-American Historical & Cultural Museum, Philadelphia, USA,1975. Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 1975. National Museum, Lagos, 1975. British Council, Kaduna, 1976. Centre for Nigerian Cultural Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1978. “Contemporary Nigerian Art from Oshogbo and Ife,” Bucks County Community College, Newtown, Pennsylvania, USA,April 13-May 1 , 1980. “National Art Exhibition,” National Theatre, Lagos, September 25-October 1, 1980. “The Contemporary Art of Nigeria,” International House of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA, December 5-6, 1980. Kashim Ibrahim Library Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1981. Shell Petroleum Development Company Ramp, Warri, 1981. “Nigerianische Kunst Ausstellung,” Nigerian Cultural Centre, Bonn, Germany, March 18-April 1, 1982; Ingleheim and Berlin, Germany, 1982. National Council for Arts &Culture, Lagos, 1983.

Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 1983. “Festival of Nigerian Arts”, Embassy of Lebanon, Lagos, March 22-29, 1985. “SilverJubilee National Art Exhibition,” National Theatre, Lagos;Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Lugard Hall, Kaduna, September 26-Octoberl, 1985. Nigerian Arts Exhibition, Federiksvaerk, Denmark, 1986. “Nigerian Arts Exhibition,” Galerie Transit Kulturhaus, Spandau, Germany; Berlin, Germany, November 1986. •Ife Group of Artists,” Franco-German Auditorium, Lagos. May 13. 1987. “1k Group of Artists.’ Goethe Institute. Lagos. May 1988. ‘Nigerian Artists and the French Revolution,” Franco-German Auditorium, Lagos. July 7-19, 1989. “Artists of Africa.”Iludor Hall, Montreal. Canada, November 29-December 9, 1989. [traveled to Ottawa and Knowlton. Canada, 1989-1990J. “1990 Exhibition of Contemporary Yoruba An.” School of Architecture. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, April 24-29,1990.

Awards & Honors First prize In painting, French Cultural Centre. Lagos, July 1989. Public Collections Iwalewa-Haus, Bayreuth, Germany. Deep etching print: ‘Love in the Wood.” National Council for Arts & Culture. Lagos. Bibliography “An Exhibition Opens,’ Nigerian Tribune (Ibadan) April 21. 1982.page 7. Festival of Nigerian Arts: Exhibition; [held at the Embassy of Lebanon. Lagos, March 22-29,1985. Lagos: s.n., 1985J.26pp. illus., port. Udenwa, Chuzzy. ‘Adeku’s Works on Exhibition,’ The Guardian (Lagos) May 16, 1985. page 13. “A Painter of the Yoruba Culture: Segun
Adeku,” Metro (Lagos). October 1985. “Adeku’s Joy of Living. The Guardian Express (Lagos)March 26.1987. Adeku. Segun. An Exhibition of Deep Etchings, Paintings and Metal Works: (exhibition held at the Italian Cultural Institute, Lagos, April 20-23, 19871. Lagos:Italian Cultural Institute. 1987.16pp. illus.

Reviewed: Siaka Momoh, ‘Adeku’s Day at Instituto Italiano di Cultura! Vanguard (Lagos), April 16. 1987: Toyin Ogunsakin, ‘Scgun Adcku: A Promise in Simplicity.’ The Guardian (Lagos)April 18,1987, page 13; Toyin Ogunsola, ‘Adeku’s Etchings and Metal Foil,’ Sunday Punch (Lagos) April 19. 1987, page 13. Ishaka, Peter. ‘Artists Celebrate Tradition,” Quality (Lagos) June 1987, page 31. Ezughah. Dili & Toyin Ogunsakin. ‘The Ife Group: A Question of Mind-Boggling Replications,’ The Guardian (Lagos) May 14. 1988. ‘Segun Adcku: Ein Maler der YorubaKultur: Kultur-Magazin (11ofheirn. Germany) Junc 30, 1989. Wortsbakunst aus Nigeria: Segun Adeku Stelliim RathausAus.” Hofhelmer Zeitung (Hofheim, Germany) July 11. 1989. Trisieren Im Palast’ and Andere Frohliche Werke.’ Hochster Kreisblatt (Hochst, Germany) July 20, 1989. “Heuschrecken und Hunger,” Frankfurter Rundschau, (Frankfurt, Germany) July 22, 1989. Toepfer, Olaf. “Kontrast Zwischen Moderner Technik und der Tradition,” Konigstein (Konigstein, Germany) August 10,1989. illus. Oshadipe, Gbile. “Echoes of the French Revolution,” Lagos Life (Lagos)August 1016, 1989, page 7.

Artists of Africa

Artists of Africa; [exhibition held in cooperation with Carleton University and the Canadian Association of African Studies, Tudor Hall, Montreal, Canada, November 29- December 9, 1989.Ottawa: CUSO, 1989]. 18pp. Reviewed: Ann Duncan, ‘Third World Will Benefit from African Art Exhibit,” The Gazette (Montreal) November 29, 1989. Korpela, Kristiina. “Segun-Taiteilija Peltikattojen Maasta,” Savon Sanomat (Finland) 1990, page 16. illus. 40 years of Segun Adeku ( A solo exhibition of paintings and prints, Alliance Francais, Ibadan. 2012.