Today we’d like to introduce you to Odah Ojomugbo Julius.
Hi Odah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Odah Ojomugbo Julius, a multidisciplinary born in 1994, from Olamaboro LGA, Kogi State, Nigeria. It all started when I was a child. In the early hours of my journey, from Nursery and primary school, I was creating, but I didn’t know how all this ideas were coming; all my notebooks were filled with doodles and sketches. I continued unconsciously into my secondary school; that was when the motivation was now becoming defined. Visual art was the only prize I received during the speech and prize-giving day; the whole thing began to make sense. In all of these, I was creating and drawing with ease; that was when I realised that the art in me is a God-given talent. At a point, coming from an environment where no one value artist and they don’t see being and artist is career, I decided to studied Economics at the university level, the whole admission got delayed and I was asked to start from somewhere, that was how I got admitted to Fine and Applied Art in Kogi State College of Education Ankpa, these time I pick Art just to easy educational stress not knowing that God’s plan is about that happen to me. Before I could finish that phase of my educational journey, I now realised that Art is my true calling; I was now left with no choice but to accept the reality that I am an artist. At Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. This level was the advanced part of my career; a lot was really developed. I learned, researched, and explored a lot. The first day I realised I was a professional artist was the day my artworks were bought in Olive Tree Gallery in Abuja, Nigeria. I felt so motivated, and I continued with my painting. Presently, I have participated in many group exhibitions, workshops, art fairs, volunteering and feature in TV channel. They is these popular quote by Picasso that said “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Art in me is a God-given talent, and the ideas were developed and advanced through academic studies.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I can not say it has been a smooth road for me all through my journey in arts because i faced a lot of challenges starting from the capital aspect in as much as I can create with unconventional materials, i took the advantage of schools to develop and advance my ideas. And during the process i recieved a lot of criticism on my style of art work that almost led to me giving up in the style. Finally the mode of excuting my idea became another difficult part during my journey as an artist.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a visual artist, specialising in painting. My works are mainly abstract and figurative paintings, such as portrait and landscape paintings. I also do mural paintings full-time. Discovering my niche as an artist is one of the things I am most proud of. My style of painting and mode of execution.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can collaborate with me through art projects, volunteering, exhibitions, or art installations with fellow artists, galleries, or museu,ms and people can also support me through commissions, buying my artworks, featuring my works, sharing markets, stories and mission with your networks.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julz_arts?igsh=MTN1Mmd0bWowMXBsOA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HEHiLtB67/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@julz_arts1?si=Sn5Idk1_80r-e9mc
