The portraits of Nigerian artist Sholanke Boluwatife Emmanuel reveal his empathy, respect and sensitivity to his subjects. “The suffering and resilience of every African child raised from a poor family background is a theme that resonates deeply with me. I aim to highlight the struggles and triumphs that define our lives,” he says.
Initially, Boluwatife says, he didn’t plan to pursue art, discouraged by the street artists he saw. Then, in 2011 in primary school at Holy Trinity School in Ogun state, his teachers and classmates encouraged young Boluwatife to draw. In secondary school, he discovered his strong passion for art. He started painting in oils in 2017 when assigned a portrait of President Muhammad Buhari. He was then sixteen.
“Growing up in a financially challenged African family, accessing art materials was difficult. I had to save up and buy what I could,” he remembers. “I faced skepticism from my parents about pursuing art as a career with questions like ‘What will you use art to do?’ and ‘Do they study art in school?’
“Despite these doubts and disapproval, I remained committed to my craft and developed my skills on my own.” After secondary school, Boluwatife worked with an art tutor to further learn drawing and painting. ”The teacher taught me for free because he understood me and valued my talent,” he says.
Boluwatife went on to study Fine Art at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Nigeria, where he earned his National Diploma (ND). He funded his Polytechnic education through art commissions from friends, referrals, and social media.
“My work has evolved over time, Boluwatife says. “While earlier I explored other subjects such as market scenes, portraits have become my primary focus. They fascinate me. Now I work with oil on canvas, but I’ve recently been exploring watercolors. “I work with oil paints to achieve a high level of realism, focusing on capturing the subtleties of light, texture, and color. I’m meticulous about getting the proportions, expressions, and nuances of my subjects just right, aiming to create a lifelike representation. I’ve gone from realistic portraits to portraits achieved with freer brushstrokes.”
Boluwatife paints portraits from life and mostly from photos. He often starts by drawing his subject, but sometimes begins with loose brush strokes and color patches, gradually adding details. His watercolor technique involves blending colors and creating subtle shifts in tone and texture.
He credits the influence of renowned Nigerian realist Adeyemi Ramon Omolaja, particularly his attention to detail, emotional depth, and creative use of colors. He notes his own artistic style deeply rooted in his African heritage and inspired by intricate patterns, symbols, and mythology.
Boluwatife’s models are often people around him, including friends. A notable portrait, 3 Facets of a Living Legend, was commissioned of Professor Wole Soyinka for an art exhibition celebrating his ninetieth birthday. “I sought to capture three stages of his multifaceted life—his childhood, youthful age and old age,” he says.
One of Africa’s most celebrated and influential writers, Soyinka is a champion of human rights and democracy. His writing is often infused with Yoruba mythology and culture. Soyinka’s memoir, The Man Died: Prison Notes, chronicles his experiences in prison from 1967 to 1969. A testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure and resist oppression, says Boluwatife, the memoir details the harsh conditions, physical and emotional torture, and the struggles he faced to maintain his dignity and creative spirit.
Boluwatife was also commissioned to paint a portrait of the renowned printmaking artist, professor Bruce Onobrakpeya who established the Harmattan Workshop. The workshop is an inclusive space for art lovers and artists of all backgrounds to learn, unlearn, and create. Boluwatife attended the Workshop in 2024 and 2025. Here he saw other artists working in watercolor and began exploring the medium. His experience with Onobrakpeya led to painting his portrait and later presenting it to him at his home.
Boluwatife’s growing success is applauded by his parents. “My parents now think highly of my craft; they believe it can pave a better way for me,” he says, adding that he is also a passionate advocate for education, and community empowerment.
In the future,” says Boluwatife, “I want to use my art to highlight the struggles and triumphs of individuals and communities. I believe that art has the power to transform lives, challenge societal norms, and inspire positive change. I want to continually tell my own story through my work and create pieces that resonate with people’s perspectives on life.”
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