About

O. D Adedeji is a portrait artist of Nigerian descent based in Greater London, United Kingdom. Her journey as a portrait artist began in 2016 at aged 16 when she submitted her portfolio to St George’s College Weybridge and was awarded an art scholarship. After two years of traditional education, she began exploring portraiture independently. In 2021 she was recognised as one of the “Top 10” future black leaders for 2021-2022 by Powerful Media and sponsored by the University of Oxford for her contribution to Fine Art and her academic studies.

The three concepts that guide her creative process are: heritage, legacy and contribution, and these concepts are the foundation for her love of art and culture. According to her, our heritage guides our values, beliefs, and the way in which we draw inspiration from the surrounding environment.
Paintings such as Two Sisters (2018), A Sign of Hope (2022) and An Alternative Future (2022), were heavily influenced by the artist’s interest in Nigerian fashion.
A Sign of Hope (2022) features a figure wearing a Fila on his head and a Sanyan Agbada which is worn by men in Nigeria. It is one of the first handwoven fabrics to be introduced to Yoruba culture.

Like photographs, literature, film etc., art is used to decipher history by future generations. When creating a composition, she always consider the longevity and impact for those who will see the painting long after completion. She hope’s that the legacy of her paintings will exceed her life and be passed on to future generations to enjoy. When painting her family members, she believes that she is cementing their legacy within the family for years to come.

Additionally she creates artwork that contributes to the social causes that impacts her community, whether that be through the subject matter, composition or the story behind the painting. She enjoys creating paintings that have cultural and societal relevance taking inspiration from things that affect Africa and the diaspora.