[ad_1]
The primary impression of Renike Olusanya’s type is that she is unfettered by tendencies. That is firmly formed by the truth that she marches to the beat of her personal drum. The Nigerian artist and illustrator has spent years growing a wardrobe stuffed with snug and richly coloured objects. She recurrently meshes daring colours with each other too. However how does an artist with no keenness to experiment with manufacturers emerge to change into one among Nigeria’s most trendy artists, cherished and cherished for her unique style on X previously often known as Twitter?
It’s by way of Bawsty, a model she co-founded along with her good friend Damilola Onosowobo. The corporate was created as a method to supply plus-sized ladies a option to put on beautiful outfits that make them really feel elegant but in addition attractive. “We thought it was a great way to outline an important expertise for ladies,” Olusanya stated.
![How Art And Fashion Collide For Nigerian Creators Renike Olusanya and Chigozie Obi](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-future-awards-africa.jpeg)
Bawsty transcends greater than style inclusivity and enterprise. To Renike, it’s a present to broaden her type. “Since we created Bawsty, I’ve discovered myself being extra experimental with garments,” she shares. “With analysis, I now perceive the kind of garments to create for ladies with related physique varieties, it helps me to know the type of garments to put on.” The designer mentions that the model has additionally taught her so much about her physique kind.
Renike Olusanya’s profession as an artist has spanned years. She started in 2020 as an illustrator behind many of the fascinating e book cowl designs together with “The Solar Is Additionally A Star” by New York bestselling writer Nicola Yoon and “Goodbye Love” by Briuana Inexperienced. She has now transcended into digital artwork. Whereas she doesn’t take the standard type of artwork, she has been in a position to showcase her works at group exhibitions all through the world. The artist has additionally received awards together with the distinguished prize for arts on the Future Awards Africa in 2023.
![How Art And Fashion Collide For Nigerian Creators Renike Olusanya and Chigozie Obi](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/So-What_-2023-scaled.jpeg)
Renike Olusanya’s artwork is vivid, expressive, and intuitive; at all times elaborating on the essence of blackness or deciphering what it means to be a Black girl. In her world, she brings these ladies alive, all stunning, with afro futuristic hairstyles and an virtually vigorous reflection of the ladies she is aware of within the bodily world.
“Because the co-founder, I’m in control of advertising and gross sales, Renike stated. “Interacting with individuals, customer support, and gross sales stored me busy. I’m not completely happy [when] my artwork is struggling however being on this new house has helped me navigate issues about style. I’m dedicated to not making it endure a lot this yr.”
![How Art And Fashion Collide For Nigerian Creators Renike Olusanya and Chigozie Obi](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bawsty-backless-dress-scaled.jpeg)
Other than professing her love for Tracee Ellis Ross, her favourite style icon, she’s charmed by the design ethos and magnificence of the model Hanifa. She compliments the model’s newest bridal assortment and its inclusive intentions. However she’s very a lot impressed by her good friend Chigozie Obi and credit her for her eagerness to experiment with extra garments. “Chigozie is so free along with her type, she doesn’t care. From being her good friend, I’ve realized learn how to cease being [so self-conscious].”
Obi is a self-professed intentional It-girl who understands the socio-construct connected to ladies’s our bodies and what they’re carrying in Nigeria. She works diligently to deconstruct and revolutionize that concept in her artwork by creating works with daring representations of ladies in cut-offs, crop tops, and patterned pants. “Ladies are simply at all times criticized, it doesn’t matter what,” she says. “Whether or not they’re carrying what covers them or not. It’s like there’s no center floor. So I want a variety of ladies would discover their artistic freedom and discover what they’re snug with carrying.” She explains right here that as a girl she needed to go on her personal journey of self-discovery and confidence by way of her clothes decisions.
![How Art And Fashion Collide For Nigerian Creators Renike Olusanya and Chigozie Obi](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Pain-Stains-Positions-scaled.jpeg)
Like what she mirrors in her artwork, her type is simply as compelling: stylish renditions of conventional outfits, clashing prints, and outfits that evoke minimalism. Whereas the artist is just not huge on tendencies, she loves a redefined model with a refined twist.. “I take pleasure in when individuals layer garments [too],” Obi provides.
Chigozie’s work as a visible artist is the visible manifestation of her expertise as a girl residing in Nigeria. In it, she captures the on a regular basis actuality of this notion with acrylic on canvas. “In my work, you’ll discover a variety of issues regarding ladies, as a result of I’m a girl, and there are such a lot of issues that have an effect on us in [the] this world.” She provides: “I exploit my work as a method to attach with different ladies, but in addition to inform individuals about what ladies undergo [and to] speak about our points. [This] creates an area for dialog. All through the previous seven years, she has held a solo exhibition and in addition been part of a number of group exhibitions. She received Nigeria’s prestigious prize for artwork often known as the ArtX prize and the Future Award Africa.
![How Art And Fashion Collide For Nigerian Creators Renike Olusanya and Chigozie Obi](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/313934858_5872168159469350_4023581653510213491_n.jpeg)
She describes Hermes as one among her favourite style manufacturers for his or her intentionality with their branding and their inventive packaging. “They put a variety of artwork of their branding and I actually like that as a result of I believe it’s like a novel strategy to present up your work and simply your artwork.” Obi mentions that they typically fee artists which is one thing she actually admires. Hanifa, Bawsty, and Nana Ama Studio are favorites of hers too.
One bias she’s been unable to understand is individuals’s one-sided perspective of what an artist ought to appear to be with regards to their private type. She tells me she feels it’s a bit foolish and says that she has handled this on a private degree. “Simply since you’re a visible artist doesn’t imply which you could’t broaden the way you look or the way you specific your self. Your expression doesn’t need to be by way of your artwork, it may also be by way of your clothes,” Obi provides.
[ad_2]
Source link