exhibitions
Art exhibition guests, Doug Koop Visitor to art exhibition, Ryan Maxwel Art exhibition opening, Sunday Olukoju Yisa art exhibition opens TV interview of an artist list of artist’s exhibitions available here SOLO EXHIBITIONS July 18 – Aug. 12, 2009 “Dignity Within” Empire Arts Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota. April 27 – May 1, 2009 “Street Bound” Eugene Myers Art Gallery, University of North Dakota. June 23, 2007 “Peace and Purpose - Art exhibition and mosaic unveiling” 71 Elsbury Bay, Winnipeg, MB. April 6 – May 14, 2006 “Dance out of Injustice” Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre, Winnipeg. Nov. 2005 – Jan. 2006 “Scenes of Hope” Gas Station Theatre, Osborne Village, Winnipeg. Feb. 1997 “Impressions” National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria. Nov. 1995 “Balanced Diet Through Colours” Chevron Nigerian Place, Victoria Island, Lagos. May 1994 “Colours and Forms in Action” National Museum, Lagos. Nov. 1990 “Norms & Forms” ARCO Petrochemical, Victoria Island, Lagos. April 1990 “Harvest of Medium” Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Sept. – Oct. 1988 “Prime Message” Western Geophysical Ltd/National Museum Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria. May 1987 “National Youth Service Corpers' Exhibition” University of Cross River State, Uyo, Nigeria. March 1985 “Direction of Perspective” Adeyemi Coll. of Education, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria. SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS Mar. 3 – Mar. 28, 2010 “Show Some Emotion” Sixth Street Gallery, Vancouver, WA. 98660 Sept. 8 – Sept. 28, 2009 “Six Artists, One Voice” Joseph D. Carrier Gallery, Toronto, ON. Sept. 17 – Nov. 21, 2008 “Invisible Dignity” King's University College, Edmonton, AB. Oct. 2 – Oct. 16, 2008 Manitoba Society of Artists, Winnipeg Conservatory Exhibition, Winnipeg, MB. March 8-May 5, 2008 Manitoba Arts and Culture Week, Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg. Sept. 22-Nov. 17, 2007 “Invisible Dignity” Mennonite Heritage Center Gallery, Winnipeg. Sept. 24-Nov. 17, 2007 “Invisible Dignity” John Fairbank Memorial Library, Booth College, Winnipeg, MB. May 2007 “Arts Rental and Sale Juried Exhibition” Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB. March 17-April 29, 2005 “Ethics & Aesthetics Series”, Salvation Army Centre, Vaughan Street, Winnipeg, MB. June 1 – July 31, 2003 “Manitoba Society of Artists 71st Juried Art Exhibition”. July 18-August 23, 2003 Nicole Gallery, Chicago. July 25-August 1, 2003 “Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery’s CARICOM Art Expo” June 21 – Sept. 15, 2001 “Why Art?” Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery, Winnipeg, MB. April – June 2001 “Juried Exhibition” Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB. June – Sept. 2001 “Juried Exhibition” 100th Anniversary, Manitoba Society of Artists, Winnipeg, MB. Sept. 1999 “Fall Open Jury” Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB. May 1999 “Diversity” Center for Intercultural Development, Red River College, Winnipeg, MB. Nov. – Dec. 1998 Mennonite Heritage Center Gallery, Winnipeg, MB. Sept. – Oct. 1998 “Fall Open Jury” Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB. May 1998 “Mosaic” Center for Intercultural Development, Red River College, Winnipeg, MB. Feb. – April 1998 “Rise With the Sun” Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature, Winnipeg. June 1993 “Mixed Dimension” American Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria. Sept. – Oct. 1984 “Visual Solution” National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Lagos, Nigeria. EDUCATION 2009 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND Master of Fine Arts (with distinction) 2000 Red River College Winnipeg, MB Advertising Art Diploma 1986 Yaba College of Arts and Technology Lagos, Nigeria Higher National Diploma in Fine Art (Major in Painting) ART RELATED EXPERIENCES February 4, 2010 Artist Presentation for University of Manitoba International Students, 
 sponsored by The Dominion Institute, Toronto Jan. 18–22, 2010 Professional Artist Series Workshop, Art City Inc., Winnipeg, MB April 21, 2008 Artist Presentation for St. James Collegiate, Winnipeg, sponsored by 
 The Dominion Institute Feb. 8, 2007 Guest speaker at the Canadian Association of Planning Students conference 
 on “Cultural planning: Integrating the Everyday” Jan. 24, 2007 Advisory member CBC ARTSPOTS, Winnipeg, Manitoba 1988 – 1992 Fine Art Instructor, Lagos State Model College, Badore, Lagos, Nigeria 1988 – 1989 Drawing & Painting Part-time Instructor, Lagos State College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos 1987 – 1992 Participated in a number of workshops for artists and art teachers 1994 – 1997 Curated several exhibitions for aspiring and emerging artists PUBLICATION AND MEDIA PREVIEWS/REVIEWS September 22, 2009 Guardian Newspaper “Six artists, one voice… Nigerian art thrills Toronto audience” April 28, 2009 “Art show focuses on streets” by Sara Tazel October 1, 2007 “Art speaks to the dignity of all” by D. Froese, Canadian Mennonite Electronic News September 22-23, 2007 CTV News by Caroline Barghout September 22, 2007 Shaw TV Winnipeg September 16, 2007 Winnipeg Free Press “Invisible Dignity: Multimedia project combines art, music, prayer” 
 by Brenda Suderman September 1, 2007 ChristianWeek Newspaper "project gives dignity to society's “invisible” by K. Rempel July 6, 2007 Winnipeg Free Press "Artist’s mosaic ‘stopped traffic on the street" by Martin Zeilig June 2006 Global Eyes Magazine “Yisa enjoys success at solo exhibition” by Beatrice Watson June 01, 2005 Winnipeg Free Press, “Students learn to apply creative abilities to daily life”, Staff Writer May 18, 2005 Winnipeg Free Press, “Art show offers ethical alternative”, Staff Writer May/June 2006 Winnipeg WHERE Magazine. “Editor’s Choice” by Brad Hughes and Lindsay Duke April 24, 2006 CBC TV reported by Barbara Brunzell, News Now by Krista Erickson April 13, 2006 CBC Radio-Canada reported by Louis-Philippe Ouimet April 6, 2006 City TV Winnipeg April 13-14, 2005 Shaw TV Winnipeg March 16, 2005 The Herald Community Newspaper, Winnipeg March 11, 2005 A-Channel TV Big Breakfast, Winnipeg Aug. 2000 Trinity Television, “Light Talk", by Greg Musselman Aug. 2000 Trinity Television, "Light Talk", by Greg Musselman July 1999 CBC Television, "Canada Day National News", by Krista Erickson Feb. 1998 Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg, "Africa art serves up a sumptuous treat", by Garth Buchholz June 1997 Sunday Times, "Sharpening the mind through art", by Maurice Archibong June 1997 The Guardian Newspaper, "Creative Foundation discourse", by Steve Ayorinde July 1994 Lagos Weekend, "Yisa Akinbolaji's works mirror society", by Aloy Ibeabuchi April 1994 The Guardian on Sunday, "Model memorabilia", by Taofik Akanni Jan. 1994 Sunday Times, "Seminar on creativity", by Gabriel Dike Jan. 1994 Punch Newspaper, Creative Foundation kicks off", by Awawa Bassey and Eka Ekang 1993 Nigerian Artists: A Who's Who & Bibliography, by Janet L. Stanley & Bernice Kelly 
 of Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington, D.C., 1990 Lagos Weekend, "Akinbolaji's Norms, Forms and Actions", by Aloy Ibeabuchi 1990 Times International, "Creating Awareness", by Kodinlinye Obiagwu 1988 The Financial Post, "A harvest of culture", by Augustine Njaogwuani 1988 Megastar Magazine, "Prime Message", by J. O. S. Edigbe Feb. 1985 National Concord, "What role for artists", by Bayo Onanuga Sept. 1985 The Guardian Newspaper, "The verve of a sapling", by Chuzzy Udenwa PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS 2000 – Present CARFAC - Canadian Artists' Representation 2001 – Present Manitoba Society of Artists (MSA) Member and Past President 2005 – Present Member, Manitoba Printmakers’ Association AWARDS (2008) McElroy-Edwards, Jackie Scholarship, USA (1998) Valerie Fostey Memorial Award, Canada (1987) National Youth Service Chairman's Honour, Cross River State, Nigeria (1983) An award in the National Painting Competition, organized by Mobil Producing Nigeria
From left: Special guests - Maggie & Doug Koop and Velma Rust.
 
Middle: Lt. Col. Max Ryan and Pat Ryan on the right.
Yisa Akinbolaji with “A” Channel TV cameraman.
From left: Ms. Beatrice Watson, and Dr. Sunday Olukoju at the opening ceremony of Yisa Akinbolaji’s exhibition at Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre, Winnipeg.
Yisa Akinbolaji
painting, mosaic and printmaking
HomeHome.htmlshapeimage_3_link_0
AFRICAN CANADIAN VISUAL ARTIST