ONABOLU Aina

Biographical record

Surname

Aina

First Name

ONABOLU

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

September 13, 1882,

Date of Death

1963

Place of Birth

Ijebu Ode.

Profession

Artist

Schools Attended with Dates

Initially taught himself and executed portraits of prominent Nigerians before going to Europe for formal training, 1900-1920; diploma in art, St. Johns Wood Art School, London, 1922; Certificate of Profidency in oil painting and fine arts, Academie Julien, Paris.

Previous Appointments

part-time art teacher, primary schools, 1915-1920; art teacher, Methodist Boys' High School, Lagos; painting instructor, Kings College, St. Gregory's College, Lagos Baptist Academy and other Lagos schools;

Have you ever been a member of any political party?

N/A

Creative Work/Major Exhibitions

Group Exhibitions "Pictures by Aina Onabolu and Drawings by his Pupils," Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, November-December 1925. FESTAC '77, July 1977. "Exhibition of Nigerian Traditional and Contemporary Art," Lagos, 1978. Writings by the Artist A Short Discourse on Art. Lagos, 1920. Understanding the New Art. Paper read during the exhibition of Onabolu's students at the TomJones Hall, Lagos, early 1950s, [unpublished]. Awards & Honors Medal of the British Empire, 1957, for fine arts education in Nigeria; "Chief Aina Onabolu Art Prizes," established by Sodety of Nigerian Artists, November 27, 1965; Fellow (posthumous), Asele Institute, Nimo, 1985.

Outstanding Achievements

pioneered art instruction in Nigerian schools, encouraging a realistic and naturalistic style; instrumental in inviting Kenneth Murray to come to Nigeria to teach art; sometimes referred to as "father of modern Nigerian art." Solo Exhibitions Portraits, Lagos, 1919. "Pictures of Onabolu," Lagos, April 27-30, 1920. Produced his first portrait, "Mrs. Spencer Savage", 1906; executed portraits of Nigerians as commissions, 1910-1915;