Oluwamuyiwa

Cyril Oluwamuyiwa Emmanuel (b. 1995) is a conceptual contemporary artist, currently lives and works in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. He attended Obafemi Awolowo university, Ile-Ife, earning a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. A native of Ikire, Osun state, Nigeria, his use of traditional biological materials pay homage to his homeland. For Cyril, growing up as a Yoruba tribal man, culture is a major influence; it's a lifestyle that touches their food, dress, actions and spirituality.

Cyril enjoys painting and began painting professionally as a healing therapy from depression caused by the countless challenges he has experienced. A self taught artist; he depicts his anatomical, figurative and symbolic subjects using charcoal, palm oil, pastel and acrylic paint. Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, Hieronymus Bosch and Yinka Shonibare, Cyril has forged a distinctive style through research and experimentation, with different local and biological materials found on the African soil, with a goal to be an advocate for human rights and environmental sustainability.

His recent body of work explores the importance of palm oil as a suitable medium to produce aromatic arts; that allows everyone to be able to have an experience with his works irrespective of disability. He attempts to make a statement with compositions that presents the anatomical and figurative subjects as ancient African bronze-like sculptures in 2D on a canvas. 

With themes centered around African identities, cultures and history, he hopes to empathize with special individuals and minorities in African society, by portraying them in a state of grandeur. The subjects of his works are society outcasts, forgotten and isolated, addressing the issues of stigmatization, discrimination, oppression, depression, rejection, mental health and insecurities, with a message that calls for love without prejudice. Cyril’s past experience of challenges encountered made an impression on him that has resonated with his interaction with others, and the environment as a living being.

“I believe that Nature is the true teacher of the Artist, only through all our senses, not neglecting the least, could Nature be fully comprehended and appreciated. It’s the responsibility of everyone to protect Nature, as a voice for the voiceless and environmental protection.”