Kelani Fatai

Kelani Fatai (b. 1994, Nigeria) was born and raised in Mushin, Lagos and he has discovered his passion for art from the age of six. After his apprenticeship under two Lagos-based artists, Damilola Opedun and Muyiwa Williams, he attended the Yaba College of Technology to study art and design and acquired a Higher National Diploma in painting in 2019. His works are inspired by nature and by his surroundings - his childhood struggles sparked his fascination with the differences in human condition. His works also double as a mirror to the socio-political issues in Nigeria, allowing him to make sense of the challenges whilst imploring the audiences to reflect. Ultimately, his works revolve around the beauty of elegant, albeit simply-clad, black individuals. Through the unidentified flowers in his versatile impressionist and realist paintings, he highlights the message of love and togetherness as he expresses the world through his lens.