Peju Alatise, artist, poet and writer, is a major figure on the contemporary African art scene. Like many of her peers, this Nigerian artist uses her talent to highlight the realities of our times. Her work focuses primarily on women in Nigeria, as well as the political and religious issues shaping the country. Immerse yourself in the unique artistic universe of the established Nigerian artist and rediscover her art, a true reflection of the world around us.
Born in 1975 in Lagos State, Nigeria, Peju Alatise grew up in a traditional Muslim family, surrounded by seven brothers. As a teenager, she discovered a passion for art, after being deeply inspired by an exhibition by Nigerian artist David Dale. Despite her father’s reluctance, she received support from her mother, who had received a prediction about her daughter’s financial success. Thus, the Nigerian artist embarked on an artistic career, gradually forging her own vision and technique.
Before devoting herself fully to her art, Peju Alatise studied architecture at Ladoke Akintola University in Oyo State. This training enabled her to acquire a rational, structured approach, which she then applied to her artistic practice. It was during a visit to the Jakande craft market in Lagos that she discovered her passion for painting, sculpture and jewelry design. These varied experiences nourish her artistic work and enable her to explore multiple media and techniques.
Peju Alatise’s art is deeply rooted in her social and political commitment, and she uses a wide variety of media to express her ideas and convictions. Whether through painting, sculpture, jewelry-making or writing, she addresses important social and political themes, incorporating elements of Yoruba literature, symbolism and mythology into her work.
By highlighting the specific struggles of women in Nigeria and Africa, she raises crucial questions about gender inequality and women’s rights. Her art acts as a means of raising awareness and denouncing social injustices, while opening up dialogue on more universal and timeless issues.
As a social activist and committed artist, Peju Alatise follows in the footsteps of many eminent Nigerian artists, including Nike Davies-Okundaye, Lara Ige-Jacks and Ndidi Dike, who have left their mark on the history of African art. Her unique artistic style, blending tradition and modernity, literature and art, enables her to create powerful, evocative works that resonate with a wide and diverse audience.
Drawing inspiration from her predecessors, artists David Dale, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Nike Davies-Okundaye, Susanne Wenger, and her cultural roots, Peju Alatise has developed a personal and authentic artistic language, enabling her to tell stories rich in emotion and meaning. His art transcends borders and barriers, offering a unique and profound vision of contemporary society and humanity as a whole.
Peju Alatise’s “Flying Girls” is a truly remarkable work, as much for its artistic dimension as for the profound social message it conveys. Presented at the 2017 Venice Biennale, this installation features eight life-size girls endowed with wings, embodying the dream of a ten-year-old girl working as a cleaner in Lagos, yearning for a realm of freedom and independence where she can fly. This poignant work tackles themes of social injustice, female emancipation and the fight against child labor, offering an imaginative and powerful vision of a better future for young girls.
As a member of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art and founder of the Alter Native Artists Initiative (ANAI), a non-profit organization supporting the development of the visual arts in Nigeria, Peju Alatise is actively committed to promoting creativity and artistic expression in her country and beyond. Her work has been widely exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale and in cities such as New York, Florence, Marrakech and London, attracting admiration and interest from audiences and critics alike.
Awarded the FNB Art Prize in 2017 and having participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions including “Material Witness” (2012), Nike Art Gallery, Lagos; “WRAPTURE: a Story of Cloth” (September 12-November 16, 2013), Art Twenty-One, Lagos; “Prelude, pretexts and presumptions” (2018), Arthouse Contemporary, Lagos; 1: 54 African Contemporary Artfair (2014), Somerset House, London; August Wilson center for Arts, 2018, among others, Peju Alatise is establishing herself as a major artist on the contemporary art scene, exploring universal and engaged themes through her paintings, sculptures and installations. Her work embodies a subtle dialogue between tradition and modernity, reality and reverie, offering viewers a profound and enriching aesthetic and intellectual experience.
In addition to her influence on the global art scene, the Nigerian artist is keen to support emerging artists through the creation of artist residencies in Morocco and Turkey. These spaces would be dedicated to the life and work of artists, fostering collaboration and mutual inspiration. In an interview with Ijeoma Ndukwe, she says: “When I look at the standard I want my work to be in, I look at what’s happening on a global scale. The artists who inspire me are those whose work engages in a way that informs or inspires you, that speaks to the true essence of the human in you, and I want my work to do the same.“
Nigerian contemporary artist Peju Alatise embodies a generation of committed, talented African artists who are shaking up the codes of contemporary art. Her work, deeply rooted in the reality of her country, offers a lucid and poetic look at the world around her. An artist whose talent and creativity promise to surprise us for a long time to come, and whose impact and influence continue to be felt through her inspiring and committed creations.