Doba Afolabi was born in the mountains of southwest Nigeria and credits his mother who was a versatile dancer as the fundamental force behind his flair for expressions. Monet, Van Gogh Degas and Yoruba stylized carvings were later influences while he studied at the University catching with the spirit of the Zaria art avant garde tagged the “Zaria Rebels” style of the famous Zaria art school where he graduated.
Doba worked as a graphic artist with the British overseas development of the UN and taught at Yaba College of technology in Lagos Nigeria prior to his coming to New York. His success at several exhibition and the academics propelled his momentum. His “Women’s Day” won a regional poster project with the WHO and it was placed at several centers around the country and beyond.
He is proud of his first Solo exhibition tagged “Buffalo Soldier” in 1999 at the art district of North East Miami in Florida and several other shows curated by Asmar b art gallery which launched his fame among the scholars thereby initiating him as a relevant force at the annual Black History Month art shows at the Florida International University. Doba later extended his tents far and wide enough to be recognized at the popular 2001 Brooklyn Fulton art Fair by his mentor and spiritual father, Otto Neal. He is well known at various art galleries after working briefly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the City and has featured alongside the art biggies most especially at the great Dorsey Gallery which produced the likes of Romare Bearden, Otto Neal, and Dr Ojo who connected him with Emmit Wigglesworth.
It never came as a surprise when Doba won the first prize at the annual juried exhibition of the Greater Port Jefferson art council in 2007 because the theme of the painting of his that was ahead of 70 other artists was a captivating memory of the Katrina inundation of New Orleans the home of jazz and blues which the title ” Melody Intruded” depicted portraying the sympathetic struggles of infants and their parents in the midst of chaos, Doba’s version of Theodore Gericault’s ” Raft of Medusa.”
Doba who has been “weaving colors” (according to his words) since 1982 have produced works that have been eagerly collected by scholars and other private collectors who see their universality and portraits of captivating creativity. He loves dynamism; and his works are very fragmental and windy. His style falls between impression and sporadic stylization.
His latest efforts have produced seasoned masterpieces but the most prominent that has just been seen and applauded at the New York art circus is the one titled “Talking to The Spirit: Ancestors Here We Come!” 5 ft x 10 ft, the piece can be seen on the web ARTCURIAN and in the exhibition at Arthur Bennett Hall, in Downtown Brooklyn, in the company of other Afro American masters like Otto Neal, James Brown and Emmit Wigglesworth.
Doba Afolabi is the official artist of the 2010 International African Arts Festival (39th Annual edition).
