Catalogue: Legacy Solo Exhibition Awodiya Toluwani

Greetings,

Mitochondria Gallery is honored to present “Legacy.” This exhibition features ten works from Nigerian artist, Awodiya Toluwani. The exhibition features paintings of Black women from the Victorian Era. The exhibition was curated by Mitochondria Gallery. Mitochondria Gallery selected the theme of Black women from the Victorian era as a concept for exploration for a show as imagery of Black women in this era is scarce and limited.

Eleanora (Meaning: Sun Ray) Acrylic on Textured Canvas. 48 x 60 in. 2021.

View Exhibition Catalogue

Toluwani was chosen as the artist to bring this concept to life due to his past works that celebrate the essence of a Black woman which is the focal point of “Legacy.” Mitochondria Gallery and Toluwani worked for months to create and bring to fruition the various images that are presented in this exhibition.

“Legacy,” links the past, present, and future through artistic expression. The visuals of this exhibition depict Black women in the Victorian Era, a time period where images of Black women are often overlooked and excluded in documented history. The exhibition celebrates Black women for their intelligence, strength, beauty and much more through artistic expression.

Awodiya Toluwani portrays these figures of our past using figurative expressionism paintings, which are built on the plethora of layered motifs he creates on canvas. These motifs are comprised of syllabograms, pictograms, and logograms, some of which are of historical significance that were used in communication within groups of West African cultures. Some of these motifs were created by Toluwani as he has placed his own meanings to these motifs to communicate with the viewers of his works.

Linked to this email is a beautifully photographed catalogue published in conjunction with the exhibition. It features essays by Ajiboye Olusegun Jide (Ph.D) and Stephen Fọlárànmí (Ph.D), both from the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria. The essays provide historical information on the Victorian era illuminating Toluwani's exploration of the subject matter. 

We hope you enjoy the exhibition. 

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments. 

View Legacy October 16, 2021 10 am - 6 pm

2101 Winter Street. Houston, TX 77007. (2nd Floor)

All the best,

Timi Etebu

Principal 

Mitochondria Gallery