Sola Olulode

Sola Olulode creates vibrant, textural paintings that celebrate the fluidity of identity, centering Black queer experiences, particularly those of British Black Womxn and non-binary individuals. Drawing inspiration from her lived experience, friends, and cultural references, her work emphasizes visibility, representation, and the celebration of queer intimacies. Her practice incorporates traditional Nigerian Yoruba adire textile techniques alongside natural dyes, batik, wax, ink, pastel, oil bar, and impasto, producing richly layered canvases that explore the nuances of identity and embodiment. Olulode’s utopian scenes depict joyful figures in intimate, tender settings, creating temporal spaces that transcend reductive notions of sexuality. These compositions emphasize the warmth, complexity, and energy of queer love, offering a visual affirmation of self-validation and collective joy. Through her paintings, Olulode brings to life a world that celebrates Black queer lived experience, portraying multifaceted individuals in moments of intimacy, movement, and emotional resonance. Her work balances playful color, textural depth, and emotive storytelling, inviting viewers to engage with a vision of love, affirmation, and cultural richness. ...