Dotun Popoola
{{Short description|Nigerian artist (born 1981)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dotun Popoola
| image = Dotun Popoola.jpg
| caption = Dotun Popoola in a traditional attire
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|4|7|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Lagos
| education =
| alma_mater = Auchi Polytechnic
Obafemi Awolowo University
| occupation = Sculptor
| nationality = Nigerian
| boards = artinmedicine Project
| awards =
| website = {{url|https://dotunpopo.com}}
}}
Dotun Popoola (born in 1981, Lagos) is a contemporary Nigerian artist (sculptor) who specializes in synergetic metal sculpting. He creates pieces of art works from discarded scrap metals. His works are focused on transforming trash to treasures, rubbish to rubies and waste to wealth by repurposing wastes that threaten the ecosystem.{{cite web |title=About Dotun Popoola |url=https://dotunpopo.com/about-dotun-popoola/ |access-date=2021-03-08 |archive-date=2023-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602213546/https://dotunpopo.com/about-dotun-popoola/ |url-status=dead }}
Early life
Dotun studied painting and general arts in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State where he holds national diploma in painting and general art in 2004.{{cite web|url=https://www.omenkaonline.com/dotun-popoola-irin-ajo/|title=DOTUN POPOOLA: IRIN AJO|last=Enwonwu|first=Oliver|work=Omenka|date=February 22, 2018|accessdate=July 15, 2019|archive-date=July 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715162651/https://www.omenkaonline.com/dotun-popoola-irin-ajo/|url-status=dead}} He thereafter went to Obafemi Awolowo University,{{cite web|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/scrap-metals-meet-creativity-get/|title=When scrap metals meet creativity, what you get is...|last=Chukwuma|first=Udemma|work=The Nation (Nigeria)|date=March 4, 2018|accessdate=July 15, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-45981771|title=Dotun Popoola: Di Nigerian 'metal-bender' |work=BBC |date=2018-10-25|access-date=2019-03-20}} where he obtained his first and second degree in fine and applied arts with a specialisation in sculpture and painting respectively.{{cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/art/popoolas-metal-adventure-pulsates-in-animal-anatomy/|title=Popoola's metal adventure pulsates in animal anatomy|last=Sowole|first=Tajudeen|work=The Guardian (Nigeria)|date=January 13, 2019|accessdate=July 15, 2019}} Dotun is a resident artist in Lopez Studio in Lemmon, South Dakota, and travels between United States and Nigeria to paint commissioned murals.{{cite web|url=https://listen.sdpb.org/post/nigerian-artists-and-john-lopez-open-show-lemmon|title=Nigerian Artists And John Lopez Open Show In Lemmon|last=Lockett|first=Chynna|work=KUSD (FM)|date=June 20, 2018|accessdate=July 15, 2019}} He was a curator at the National Gallery of Art.{{cite news |url=https://washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/17/prairie-sky-inspires-artists-from-african-nation-o/|title=Prairie sky inspires artists from African nation of Nigeria|last=Donovan|first=Lauren|website=The Washington Times|access-date=2019-03-20}}
Exhibitions, works and contributions
Popoola works primarily with scrap metal,{{cite web|url=https://www.legit.ng/1248531-meet-dotun-popoopla-renowned-nigerian-artist-creates-artwork-scrap-metal.html|title=Meet Dotun Popoola, renowned Nigerian artist who creates artwork out of scrap metal|last=Oluwafunmilayo|first=Akinpelu|date=July 12, 2019|work=Legit.ng|access-date=July 15, 2019}} where creating animal forms is his favourite way to use the medium.{{cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2019/01/23/artist-tells-nigeria-s-story-through-sculptures-made-from-scrap-metal/|title=Artist tells Nigeria's story through sculptures made from scrap metal|date=January 23, 2019|work=Africanews|access-date=July 15, 2019}} Some of his works were exhibited in ART X Lagos.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/08/arts/design/lagos-nigeria-art-x-art.html|title=Lagos, City of Hustle, Builds an Art 'Ecosystem' |last=Mitter|first=Siddhartha|date=2019-02-08|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-03-20}} He had a solo exhibition called "Irin Ajo" (Journey) in Signature Beyond Art Gallery, Lagos, where he presented around 24 metal works of his.{{cite web|url=https://punchng.com/with-popoola-a-metal-dog-can-bite/|title=With Popoola, a metal dog can bite|last=Lasisi|first=Akeem|date=April 12, 2018|work=The Punch|access-date=July 15, 2019}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.artsy.net/artist/dotun-popoola Works] (Artsy)
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Popoola, Dotun}}
Category:21st-century Nigerian sculptors
Category:Auchi Polytechnic alumni