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