Faith Omole (B. 2000) is a self-taught visual artist whose practice explores the documentation of beliefs and the evolving culture of contemporary times including her personal interpretations of each memory in those events. Her works encompass the spiritual realities of the African culture, not only in history, but in the present lifestyle. Mass belief systems, popular Afro music and her wild imaginations are sources of her inspiration. Each series of works is affected by her environment and happenings at a point in time. As she struggles to find peace in her practice, Omole infuses the interplay of African motifs and symbolism with an entity she calls “OLU”, creating a masquerade-like being she defines as a representation of a god; the one in every human. Olu usually makes appearance in her works as her mental and spiritual connection deepens. The world and everything in it to Omole is seen in patterns; ones that cannot lie and are continuous, often leaving gaps for fate. Faith is always exploring and her peace is in the continuous innovation of a new art piece. Omole expresses herself in multiple media; plastic, digital art, clay, ink and glass. She has participated in several workshops and group exhibitions some of which are: October Rain (2022), Mydrim gallery, Lagos; Variant group exhibition, Vivid Art Africa, (2021), Ife; Prune Nourry exhibition, Art21,(2022), Lagos; Igo Glass workshop (2022), Lagos; Circle of Art exhibition, Olori Art Foundation, Lekki, Lagos, (2023) and more. She had a three month artists and curator’s residency at Nike Art Gallery, 2022. Omole was also a recipient of the Prune Nourry grant for 108 selected students to sculpt each missing Chibok girls on the face of the Ife terracotta heads in 2022. In January, 2023, she was one of ten artists shortlisted for a residency as a bilateral art exchange between Nigeria and Germany by the Circle of Art. She continues to discover her originality and passion in Oluism, motifs and symbolism. She lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria.
We recently caught up with Faith after High Art 2023 to learn more about her most recent inspirations:
Where do you find your creative inspiration?
Personal experience, Biographies, and my Imagination.
Why do you do what you do?
Because I can't not do it. I'm addicted.
What art/artist do you most identify with?
Van Gogh.
What themes do you pursue the most?
Emotions of Love.
What role does an artist have in society?
To influence change, to drive evolution.
What is your artistic outlook on life?
Life is what you make it. Every human is a God in their own right. Every human can create their own reality.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Trying to be perfect first is a waste of time.
Do you listen to music while you are creating? If yes, share the song and artist that you listen to while creating art.
Shots - Imagine Dragons; Stupid Deep - Jon Bellion.
What's the best thing about being an artist?
You can create your life.
What is your dream project?
Collaboration with Nike to create wears for women.
Support Faith by shopping her collection here.
