Prince Ade Oyelami Is a Nigerian-born painter and batik artist whose work celebrates Yoruba culture using themes from folklore, mythology, and philosophy.  With exhibitions in Europe and the U.S., he sees his art as a means to build understanding between those of African and non-African descent.

 

Oyelami belongs to the second generation of artists to come out of the prestigious Osogbo Mbari Mbayo Experimental Art Workshop.  Encouraged by his eldest brother, Chief Muraina Oyelami (one of the first graduates of that school), he decided to make art his career. Ade was introduced to another first generation Mbari Mbayo graduate, the famous Yoruba bead and mixed media artist, Chief Adetunji Jimoh Buraimoh, known as one of the most influential talents to arise during the 1960s. Oyelami studied under Buraimoh for a number of years, and then ventured out to create his own identity as an artist. 

 

Oyelami has clearly established and mastered his own artistic style, both in his paintings, and his unique batik work, elevating this medium to the level of fine art. He has been featured in various exhibitions around the United States, as well as internationally. He has exhibited in the Tom Joyner Foundation Gallery of Art (Lorel Gallery) in Los Angeles, Gallery Guichard in Chicago, and Vivant Art Collection in Philadelphia.