Doba Afolabi, as he prefers to be called due to his lengthy African name, was known by his full name Adedeji
Adedoba Afolabi while he studied at Ahmadu Bello University Nigeria. While there, he caught with the spirit of
the Zaria Art Avant Garde called the ‘Zaria Rebels’, a style of the famous Zaria art school where he graduated
with Bachelors of Art.
Afolabi 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 exhibitions 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 called ‘Buffalo Soldier,’ in 1999, at the art district of North East Miami,
Florida because of the introduction of his ‘American godfather and benefactor, Professor Joseph Mcnair.
Additionally, several other shows curated by Ludlow Bailey Asmar at B Art Gallery that 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.
His fame continued to soar among notable galleries after working briefly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in
New York and the City of Human Resources preceding several exhibit features alongside the art’s biggest
galleries especially at the Great Old Dorsey Gallery that produced the likes of Romare Bearden, Otto Neal, and
Dr Ojo. This connects him with Emmit Wigglesworth, Danny Simons and many other art icons in New York.
Afolabi has been one of the notable official artists of Soul Basel Art Africa Miami, and he is well known to the city
of Miami Dade County Tourism where his piece served as a page headline for Basel Visitors Directory.
He was hailed in rousing accolades while he performed live painting to the admiration of hundreds of dignitaries
at Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce Gala Night in the Hilton Hotel on Biscayne Ballroom Miami where he was
invited as the official artist.
There has been a series of media coverage on Afolabi’s work from the Miami Herald to the Washington Post
through his major handler in Washington DC, Zenith Gallery. They sold his work “Washington Jam” to
Washington DC Art Bank. Afolabi was inducted lately as a selected artist in Department of State, Art in
Embassies Program, where his piece “MidDay Market I” has been transported to the American Embassy in
Guinea for an art show, while his ongoing art shows can be viewed in Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in New York.
Several Galleries from New York to the UK, Africa, to the Middle East and beyond bear the works of Doba
Afolabi, who is noted among prominent artists in Brooklyn. The record of contemporary artists in the African
Diaspora will always include Afolabi’s works which have been at popular auctions like Tom Joyner, AMREF
USA, Artsy online, Empire show through Gallery Guichard in Chicago, and a couple of others. He has been
mentioned among artists like Derrick Adams, Toyin Odutola, Danny Simons, Wangeshi Mutu and other
prominent Afro contemporaries. One of his biggest accomplishments, according to him, has been the acquisition
of his two major pieces that are 12 feet apiece, collected by One United Bank California.
Education:
1992 Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Nigeria B.A Painting
1985 University Of Ife (Adeyemi College) Nigeria National certificate in Education
Exhibitions:
2019
Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, Chelsea New York
USA Department of State Art in Embassy show Guinea Conackry
· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
·
Zenith Gallery est. 1978 202-783-2963
1429 Iris St., NW art@zenithgallery.com
Washington DC 20012-1409 zenithgallery.com
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2018
Art House NY at Reddot, Art Basel Miami
See Me, Art Basel Miami
Art Africa, Miami
Brooklyn comes to Base, Hamptons Ocean Drive Miami
2017
AmrefUSA Auction
Art Basel Miami Art Africa
Zenith Gallery, Washington DC
2016
Art Village, Memphis TN
Calabar Gallery, Harlem
Lloyds International W57 NY
2015
Restoration Plaza Brooklyn NY
Zenith Gallery Washington DC
2104
Zenith Gallery, Washington, DC
Window at Amsterdam Gallery, City College, New York
Mackey Gallery, NY
Tom Joyner Cruise
2013
Impressions: Curated solo, Windows on Amsterdam Gallery, City College Harlem NY
Hudson Gallery, Sylvania Ohio
Jazz Festival, New Orleans
Pfizer World Headquarters, NY Black History Month Show
Damon Dash Gallery, Tribeca NY
Curated show at Amsterdam Window Gallery, City College New York
Gallery Guichard, Chicago
2012
Art Africa, Art Basel Miami
Art of Black, Miami
Smack Melon, Brooklyn
Bombay Sapphire, Rush Gallery, NY
2011
African American Museum, Long Island, New York
FELASPIRATIONS at 946 Fulton, Brooklyn, New York
Innovative Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2010
Gallery Guichard, Chicago @ South MLK Jr Drive
Dorsey Art Gallery, Brooklyn
Damon Dash Gallery, Tribeca Manhattan, New York
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ARTCURIAN Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
39th African International Art Fair, New York
2009
Dorsey Gallery, Brooklyn New York
2006
First Great Port Jefferson Juried Art Show, New York
2005
Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Manhattan, New York Staff Show
2001
Florida International University, Black History Month, Miami, Florida
2000
Florida International University, Black History Month
Asmar B Art Gallery, Miami, Florida
Roka Gallery NE, Miami, Florida
1985-1999
Professor Agyeman Buffalo Soldier Art Show, Miami, Florida
Colors and Forms Goetthe Institute, German Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria
Patrons Art Exhibition, Kuru Jos, Nigeria
Bachelors of Arts Final Year Art Show, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
Academic Press Art Exhibition, Lagos, Nigeria
Adeyemi College National Certificate In Education, Nigeria, Final Year Art Show
AWARDS
Artist of the year 2010
39th Africa International Art Fair New York
First Prize; Port Jefferson Art Council Juried Art Show, Long Island, New York
Academic Press Award, Nigeri