Spotlight Sola Olulode
AWITA had the pleasure of collaborating with Katy Wickremesinghe, the Founder of The Wick. In anticipation of their installation at the JW Anderson Flagship Store, Katy engaged in a conversation with artist Sola Olulode and curator Alayo Akinkugbe.
In the interview Sola shares her influences, highlighting tender connections and the everyday representation of queer and black relationships.
Sola’s install “You’re my Sweetie, My Sugar” was on display from the 22nd to the 2nd of December with a private view on Thursday 24th November 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Filmed by BEBOLD, Edited by The Wick. Full interview transcript available here.
Sola Olulode’s paintings are nuanced and tender visions of intimacy and community; her wistful images celebrations of Black identity, womxnhood and non-binary people. Distinguished by their use of gestural brushwork, indigo dye, wax, oil bar, impasto and monochromatic schemes (typically in blue, green or yellow) they speak strongly of her Nigerian heritage. Allowing the body to take centre stage, she creates utopian scenes which give prominence to movement, gesture, and romanticised acts. Reflecting her own community and experiences, her works expose a unique tenderness and a fluid ability of bringing to life representation and visibility of Black Queer lived experiences.
Alayo Akinkugbe graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA in History of Art in 2021 and completed the MA in Curating The Art Museum at the Courtauld Institute of Art in 2022. She is an art historian, writer and the founder of Instagram platform, @ABlackHistoryOfArt, which highlights Black artists, sitters, curators and thinkers from art history and the present day. Her aim is to continually champion emerging and forgotten Black artists from across the globe and across all periods of art history, in a bid to change the way art is taught and presented in the West, in favour of a more global and inclusive approach.
She has given talks at schools, universities and art institutions on topics that relate to the position of Blackness in Western art history, and she recently worked on the curatorial team of the groundbreaking exhibition In the Black Fantastic, at the Hayward Gallery. She was on the advisory panel and contributed to the book, African Artists: From 1882 to Now, published by Phaidon in 2021, and has also written for various arts publications including Tate Etc., AnOther Magazine and Art UK.
Katy Wickremesinghe is becoming known as a leading voice working across art and business. She is the Founder and CEO of The Wick, a content platform and hub to connect the culturally curious. Katy is a top 5 Luxury power player (PR Week PowerBook 2020 & 2021), and formed KTW in 2014 after a decade at Freuds. A committed cultural advocate and philanthropist, Katy serves as an RA, Serpentine Future Contemporaries and V&A Young Patron. She is also committed to mentoring Art Market Mentors (AMM) and Warwick Business School. She also holds advisory board roles including The Line and previously the Clinton Foundation. In December 2020 she became the youngest ever appointed Trustee of the Dulwich Picture Gallery.
The Wick is a hub and community on a mission to connect the culturally curious and opening up unique art world stories and experiences. For further information please see: www.thewickculture.com