Nigeria's World Best Artist Visits United States

The 2001 world best fine artist, Nigeria's Ibiyinka Alao as part of his world tour is currently in the United States exhibiting some of his work which won him the global recognition.

Ibiyinka Alao whose selection was adjudged the best in last year's International Poster contest organized by the United Nations agency, the United Nations Population Fund was recently inducted into the membership of the Alliance of African American Artists Foundation dedicated to the promotion of fine art of black heritage.

Selected as the best from over 300 entries from 61 countries of the world Ibiyinka Alao's work based on the competition's theme of "Population and Environment" focused on the connection between family size and the environment with attendant changes over time.

Mr. Alao is currently exhibiting in the Unity Festival taking place at the African International Community Centre, Indianapolis.

The twenty six years old graduate of Nigeria's Obafemi Awolowo University sees art as an embodiment of a message within an idiom of communication and an arousal of a sense of mystery. Through his art work he espouses God's given freedom to mankind while his vision is propelled by the colours of his surroundings and the ancient history of his people.

A highly talented individual, Alao's world tour exhibition of over 300 paintings was flagged off by an exhibition at the British Council Centre Abuja, Nigeria and will take him to Canada, England, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, India, Switzerland, Japan, Brazil, Turkey, Mali, South Africa, Senegal, China, Jamaica among other countries.

The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, British Council, United States Embassy in Nigeria, Nigeria Airways are some of the sponsors of the world exhibition tour.

F.K. Martins
Information Attaché
Embassy of Nigeria
Washington, D.C.
April 25, 2002