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Demilade Otayemi (B. 1993) is a multidisciplinary artist who lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. Demilade’s work addresses social issues shaped by culture, religion, politics and nature. His figurative works are characterized by his evolving expressionistic technique that places the expression and emotions of his subjects together in contrasting effect, hence proving their status as social beings.

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​Demilade’s works are heavily influenced by the social consciousness in his immediate environment which is in direct contrast to his own social life. With his works primarily in oil on canvas, He uses colours that induce a controlled emotion, these colours are more relaxed and sometimes seems to show the subject's mood against a backdrop of social acceptance, which has resonance in his own life. He creates amorphous portraits that exude a mixture of ideals, visual curiosities with transient and innate characters;  anonymous faces withholding and dispersing information at the same time. His paintings show the use of a palette knife as well as a paintbrush. This causes the characters to have some blurred details and sharp edges to them, which essentially evokes an emotion on its own.

 

Demilade is also a graphic designer who has created stunning visual identity and system design for several brands across Nigeria and beyond including Oracle - Nigeria, DIMA Consult - Qatar, Kelly MacPepple - London, Delta Soap, Schick Magazine etc. He directs Dhemian Design Studio, a design agency in Lagos. He has participated in several group shows and have won several awards.