Joy Eyitayo Alagbe.

Social Justice Campaign

Artwork Shared: Fela Kuti.

Social Page: Instagram.

Portfolio.

Artist Bio.

Inborn and lifelong distinctive artist, Joy Eyitayo Alagbe is an indigene of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria, and had his childhood days in his native land. Inbuilt talent, a lifelong practice, modern education, and a one-year Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) at Stevcent Art Gallery. Ogbomoso all combined to produce refined “Tayo-Coals”. Who is a Fine and Applied Arts, Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) holder from the revered Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo. As a painting and graphics specialist in 2019. Tayo, who has been an artist since childhood, has now been practicing as a professional for a handful of years. And the multi-media painter is currently studying for a Degree in Fine and Applied Arts. At the esteemed Obafemi Awolowo University. Whenever the school is not in session, Tayo would be in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and he’s reachable through the following functioning links:

• Facebook: Eyitayo Alagbe.
• Instagram: @eyitayo_alagbe.
• Twitter: eyitayoalagbe.
• Email: alagbejoy.eyitayo.3@gmail.com
• Phone no: +234 906 352 0060

Statement.

Being an otherwise introverted personality, I’ve found a boundless avenue for self-expression in my coals and canvasses. My art is my only voice to discuss and showcase the African lifestyles; her deep feelings and emotions; her strength and struggles; her doggedness and unrivaled perseverance and her salient, unspoken beauty. My art delicately observes and captures the children’s innocence, artlessness, and simplicity. Naivety to give them a sense of belonging in society while also diving into the Black ladies’ inexpressible and underrated prettiness. Charcoals by me, being rendered uniquely, calculatedly dazzles around themes of joy, love, hope, and peace. Thus, synchronously expressing the blended semi-tones of beauty, brotherhood, unity, and friendship.

My artistic practice painstakingly arrests the unrivaled treasures embedded in the African continent. Her strong, dark, and enduring skin; her enviable culture and custom; and her esteemed communal and mammalian inclinations. It is worth mentioning that my drive to delight the eyes and soul with my art pieces compelled me to practice relentlessly and subsequently produce artworks that deviate from what eyes are used to seeing.

My Technique.

My nonconforming technique, which has been branded “Ayoism” seems to stand perpendicularly along the borders of Impressionism and Harlem renaissance, and below is a peep into my artistic routine. Firstly, I study my models in a detailed manner. Giving a great deal of attention to facial expressions cum contours. Then make faint sketches with my charcoal pencil. And start applying the prepared, evenly – blended powdered charcoal on the flatly placed canvass with brushes. In a painstaking manner and swiftly follow it up with the application of a fixative agent for the permanence of the powdered charcoal. I then grab my charcoal pencil again to create tonal effects and would normally end the skin area with a white pencil to render the lightest spots on the Artwork. Before painting the clothes and background with acrylic.

Lastly, within the ambiance of self-expression, I deliberately apply sharp and thick calculated strokes of color pigments on the face, skin, and sometimes on the clothes of my subject. That said, I’d advise you to visit my studios to catch a glimpse of the magic of my charcoals. The beautiful combinations of my powdered and pencil charcoals and acrylic on canvas. A distinctive, slippery manner makes my art pieces a delight to the sight.

Inspiration.

I am repetitively inspired by the not-too-pleasant, real-life, everyday experiences, situations, and circumstances of the Black people and her hope for a better tomorrow. While I’m also being correspondingly stirred by her enduring strength; undying hopes; charming beauty; and affectionate tendencies. My Art is also constantly stimulated by my insatiable thirst to bring children to prominence. Validate their outlandish hopes and capture the beauty of their spirits.

Exhibitions.

My works have featured in several on-site and virtual Art exhibitions. They include;

• Art graduands’ Exhibition at Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo. (2019)
• Arnheim Art Collectionz, Ibadan (2021)
• Open Windows Exhibition, VAV Art gallery (2021)
• Ekonke Art competition, 2021 (The 1st position goes to Tayo Coals)
• 2022 – Ephemeral group exhibition by Capital Culture House
• 2022 – Expectancy group exhibition by Vivid Exclusive Art Gallery
• 2022 – What they don’t teach us in Art School by TAAG Gallery
• 2022 – Life in My City Exhibition
• 2022 – Indispensable woman by Constance and Sons Gallery
• 2022 – 2nd Place at Capital Culture House Competition

As an addendum, my artworks have been showcased by the “Black Art Review” while “The Art House”, Channels Television, have also featured the works of “Tayo-Coals”.

Tayo’s Audience.

My rare Art masterpieces endeared themselves mostly to the Blacks because it emphatically and unapologetically reflects our skin’s color. validates our belief system and captures our frequent moods and lifestyles. On the other hand, the Artworks are also immensely admired by the Whites because it gives them an exquisite peep into the world of Africans and her paraphernalia. The Black’s feminine world in particular, is showing ample love for my silky, honeyed artworks because they appreciate her hidden beauty and splendor. While the children also crave my paintings. Because they can relate with them without any ambiguity, and it captures their usual and favorites settings.

Aspirations.

I dreamt of staging a massive, crowd-pulling, solo Art exhibition in the US. While mentoring multitudes of upcoming Artists through the “Ayoism” Art movement along the line. I’d also like to see my art pieces hanging on the walls of government offices, classy galleries, and private homes. Monumental arenas and in public squares.

Artist Location: Nigeria.