JACOB AFOLABI Nigerian, 1944–2004 Installation of a King, circa 1966 Woodcut on paper. Pencil titled and signed in pencil at base. Framed. Not examined out of frame. Plate: 10 x 12 inches; frame: 14 x 18 inches $250-300
ARTIST PROFILE: Jacob Afolabi (1944–2004) was a pioneering figure of Nigerian Modernism and a standout talent of the Osogbo Art School. Originally an actor in Duro Ladipo’s theater troupe, Afolabi’s artistic career began at the inaugural 1962 Mbari Mbayo workshop led by Denis Williams, where he quickly distinguished himself alongside artists like Twins Seven-Seven. His early contributions included painting the murals that decorated the Mbari Mbayo Club, establishing a style defined by bold forms and striking, juxtaposed colors. Though his technique risked being seen as "poster art," critics praised his work for its deep sensitivity and expressive power, cementing his reputation as one of the most gifted printmakers and painters to emerge from the post-independence Nigerian art movement.
