Tunde Odunlade Nigerian, b. 1954
Tunde is a brilliant gallerist, teacher, and batik legend, working to continue his legacy of sharing African textile art, deeply rooted in Nigerian proverbs, theology, and traditions, with the world. For over 50 years, his art has continued to develop into beautiful teachings of art wrapped in wisdom directly connected to ancient and current affairs.
Babatunde Samuel Odunlade was born in Iremo, Nigeria, where he spent his childhood. He met Yinka Adeyemi, a member of the Osogbo School of Arts, and began his career in early 1970 as a second generation artist. He also attended the Oguntimehin Art Workshop at the University of Ife in 1973.
Tunde uses traditional techniques through a unique batik appliqué process on textiles which has now developed into beaded batik quilt tapestry (BBQT), beaded damask batik tapestry (BDDT) all of which has won several laurels, making Tunde an authority on these methods. He also developed a style which he calls "Floating Graphic".
Tunde's art draws from Yoruba people, history, culture, and life in Nigeria with a special focus on batiks, linocut, and woodcut prints which earned him an artist-in-residence position in 1986 and 1989 at Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Tunde's work is in the collections of premier arts and culture institutions all over the world, such as, the esteemed Smithsonian Museum of African American History, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the MacArthur Foundation Collection in Chicago. His work is also in the collections of many private individuals in the North America, Europe, and Nigeria.
