Ibiyinka Alao

Ibiyinka Olufemi Alao (born 17 October 1975[1]) is a Nigerian American artist, architect, writer and movie director. Alao attended the Nigerian Navy Secondary School (NNSS) in Navy Town, Lagos from 1988 to 1993. He studied architecture at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife.[1][2] from 1994 to 2000, practicing mostly as a Residential and Structural Architect after graduation with a B.Sc/B.Arch degree. In 2005 he was named as Nigeria's "Ambassador of Art" by The President and Commander in Chief of The Armed Forces.[3] Alao won first place in the United Nations international art contest involving participants from 61 countries.[4] On May 18, 2016 "Ibi's Fireflies," a story book based on one of his paintings "Eternity in our Hearts" won the Grand Prize of the 2016/2017 Scholastic "Kids are Authors" contest. "Ibi's Fireflies" was presented by students of Willow Lane Elementary School in Macungie Pennsylvania and also Al Khair school in London. It won the 1st place out of over 900 entries from schools in the United States.[5]

Ibiyinka Alao
Born
Ibiyinka Olufemi Alao

1975
Kogi State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerianAmerican
Known forContemporary Art

My FireFlies, a feature animated movie based on this painting was released in 2019. It is scheduled to be shown at some film festivals and art shows in 2020. The book "Ibi's Firefies" is filed as the artist's biography at the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art, while the original painting along with some of his other works are catalogued with copyright by The United States Library of Congress

Recent quote by Ibiyinka about his Painting: "I Draw, Paint and Write about whatever I'm able to find, feel and sometimes understand. I feel that it is healthier to look out at the world through a window than through a mirror. Otherwise, all you see is yourself and whatever is behind you." He's from Ponyan in Iyagba East Local Government area of Kogi State. Father is Ezekiel Bamisaiye Alao and mother is Grace Bosede Alao. Two brothers and two sisters. Ibiyinka's artworks are characterized by bright colors and they express many themes including hope, joy, peace and love - a reflection of his West African roots and deep faith in Jesus Christ as Lover and Redeemer of our Souls.

Ibiyinka's artworks have been featured by the National Museum of Nigeria, the British Council, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, The World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC, The United Nations Headquarters in New York City, the Harvard Business School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Empire State Building in New York City and the Martin Luther King center to name a few. Ibiyinka was invited by the Director General to attend the SEC 25 class, and give a special lecture at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies(NIPSS) http://nipsskuru.gov.ng/ where he expounded to the participants about the importance of art in establishing government policies towards peace. He is an honorary member of the National Institute.

James D. Wolfensohn, The Chairman Emeritus of the Carnegie Hall in New York City and Former President of the World Bank Group hosted Ibiyinka's artworks during the exhibit "Visions and Vignettes" - a collection of 18 contemporary colorful Tempera pieces. It was curated by the World Bank Art Program in partnership with the Smithsonian Museum. Three important early pieces of Ibiyinka's work are in the permanent collection of the World Bank.

Ibiyinka Alao and James D. Wolfensohn in Washington DC
"Mortal Feelings" by Ibiyinka

References
  1. "Visions of True Colors." Ibiyinka Alao. Retrieved on 27 February 2009.
  2. "Nigeria's World Best Artist Visits United States Archived 2009-02-05 at the Wayback Machine." Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Washington, D.C. 25 April 2002. Retrieved on 3 January 2009.
  3. Carillo, Karen Juanita. "Nigeria's young Art Ambassador gives new meaning to African Art." New York Amsterdam News. 27 May 2004. Volume 95, Issue 22. 24-45. Retrieved on 3 January 2009.
  4. Arcayna, Nancy. "Colors of life." Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 7 January 2007. Retrieved on 3 January 2009.
  5. Scholastic: "Kids Are Authors Winners." Retrieved on 5 June 2016
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