Olubankole Olabode’s multi-faceted practice embraces primarily painting, calligraphy and illustration.
His formal training began with a stint at Universal Studios of Art, Lagos where he refined his drawing skills. He went on to earn a National Diploma in fine art from Yaba College of Technology (2015).
Olabode explores a diversity of media ranging from pastels, graphite and charcoal to pen and ink, coffee, watercolour, oil and acrylic—the latter two being his most favoured. Also a talented muralist, his work centres on the religious and socio-political. In promoting critical thought and engaging conversations, Olabode employs satire as well as symbolic references as metaphors in addressing pertinent issues affecting Africa and her related diaspora. More recently, his body functions as the cynosure in paintings that at once become tools to interrogate, dismantle or reinforce often neglected societal values and knowledge systems.
In 2018, Bankole Olabode was appointed co-ordinator of “Art-in-the- Park Exhibition”, a weekend event to support emerging artists and market their works to prospective clients. He also participated in the 2014 edition of “Life in the City”, organised by Alliance Française. In 2010, he received the runner-up award in the Ben Enwonwu Foundation Young Artist of the Year competition, themed “Lagos, a Mega City”.
In addition, Olabode has executed several important commissioned murals and volunteered in many community art projects in Lagos including that of Falomo Bridge.
His works have been exhibited and collected both locally and internationally.