Art related education: • (2009) Master of Fine Art, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA • (2000) Red River College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Advertising Art Diploma • (1986) Yaba College of Arts and Technology, Lagos Nigeria - Fine Art (Major in Painting) Affiliation: • (2005 - Present) Member, Manitoba Printmakers’ Association, Winnipeg • (2001 - Present) Manitoba Society of Artists (MSA) Member and Past President • (2001 - Present) Canadian Artists' Representations, Manitoba (CARFAC) Member • (2000 - 2007) Creative Foundation Inc. Winnipeg, Manitoba (CFI) President • (1996 -1997) Society of Nigerian Artists, Lagos (SNA) Past General Secretary • (1994 -1996) Member 3-Man Jury of Nigerian Conservation Foundation/Shell Art Competition Solo exhibition: July 18, - August 12, 2009 “Dignity Within” Empire Arts Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. April 27, 2009 “Street Bound”, Eugene Myers Art Gallery, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA June 23, 2007 “Mosaic unveiling and art exhibition - Peace and Purpose” 71 Elsbury Bay, Winnipeg, MB April 6-May 14, 2006 “Dance out of Injustice” Franco Manitoba Cultural Centre, Provencher, 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 Nig. Plc, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria May 1994 “Colours and Forms in Action” Citadel Savings and Loan Ltd/National Museum, Lagos, Nigeria Nov. 1990 “Norms & Forms”, ARCO Petrochemical; Engineering Ltd, Victoria Island, Nigeria 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 Sept-Oct. 1985 “Visual Solution”, National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Lagos, Nigeria Group exhibitions: September 8 – September 28, 2009 “Six Artists One Voice” Carrier Art Gallery, Toronto, ON. Sept. 17 – Nov. 21, 2008 “Invisible Dignity” King's University College, Edmonton, AB Oct. 2 - Oct. 16, 2008 MSA Conservatory Exhibition March 8 - May 5, 2008 Manitoba Arts and Culture Week, Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg Sept 22-17 Nov. 2007 ‘Invisible Dignity’ Mennonite Heritage Center Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba Sept 24- 17 Nov. 2007 ‘Invisible Dignity’ John Fairbank Memorial Library, Booth College, Winnipeg, MB May, 2007 "Arts Rental and Sale Juried Exhibition" Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba March 17-April 29, 2005 “Ethics & Aesthetics Series”, Salvation Army Centre, Vaughan Street, Winnipeg June 1-July 31, 2003 “Manitoba Society of Artists 71st Juried Art Exhibition” July 18 - August 23, 2003. “Lagos meet Chicago”, 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, Manitoba, Canada June - Sept., 2001 “Juried Exhibition” 100th Anniversary, Manitoba Society of Artists exhibition Sept. 1999 “Fall Open Jury” Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada May 1999 “Diversity” Center for Intercultural Development, RRC, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Nov. - Dec. 1998 Mennonite Heritage Center Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Sept - Oct. 1998 “Fall Open Jury” Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada May 1998 “Mosaic” Center for Intercultural Development, RRC, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Feb.- April, 1998 “Rise With the Sun”, Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada May - June 1996 “Blend”, Nigerian Institute of Management/National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria June 1993 “Mixed Dimension”, American Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria Dec. 1992 “Cultural Emergence”, Ekinmogun Day Exhibition Committee, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria Nov. - Dec. 1989 Society of Nigerian Artists Silver Jubilee Exhibition, Lagos, Nigeria Publication and media previews/reviews: • September 22, 2009 Six Artists, One Voice ... Nigerian art trills Toronto audience • April 28, 2009 art show focuses on streets by Sara Tezel, The Dakota Student • October 1, 2007 Art speaks to the dignity of all by Deborah Froese, Canadian Mennonite Electronic News • Sept. 22&23, 2007 CTV News - by Caroline Barghout • September 22, 2007 Shaw TV Winnipeg • Sept. 16, 2007 Winnipeg Free Press - Invisible Dignity - Multimedia project combines art, music, prayer by Brenda Suderman • Sept. 1, 2007 ChristianWeek Newspaper "project gives dignity to society's ‘invisible’" by Kelly Rempel • July 6, 2007 Winnipeg Free Press "Artist’s mosaic ‘stopped traffic on the street" by Martin Zeilig • June 2007 Global Eyes Magazine “The role of art in nation building” by Beatrice Watson • June 2006 Global Eyes Magazine “Yisa enjoys success at solo exhibition” by Beatrice Watson • May/June 2006 Winnipeg WHERE Magazine. “Editor’s Choice” by Brad Hughes, 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 - French TV News • April 6, 2006 City TV. Announcer- Sharney Peters • April 13 and 14, 2005 Shaw TV Winnipeg • April 2005 ChristianCurrent Newspaper, Winnipeg • March 16, 2005 The Herald Community Newspaper, Winnipeg • March 11, 2005 A-Channel TV Big Breakfast, Winnipeg • 2003 Artists’ Directory- Manitoba Society of Artists • May 30, 2002 Winnipeg Free Press - Artists' group hopes to return to glory days by Morley Walker • 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 • June 1997 The Guardian Newspaper, "Tips for a better art education", by Gabriel Adeyemo • July 1994 Lagos Weekend, "Yisa Akinbolaji's works mirror society", by Aloy Ibeabuchi • April 1994 The Guardian on Sunday, "Model memorabilia", by Taofik Akanni • April 1994 The Guardian on Sunday, "Show of Creativity", by Ekny P. Uzoanya • April 1994 Sunday Times, "A renaissance from Badore", by Maurice Archibong • Feb. 1994 Daily Times, "Why art and crafts are not taught in primary Schools", by Emeka Odigbo • Jan. 1994 Sunday Times, "Seminar on creativity" by Gabriel Dike • Jan. 1994 Punch Newspaper, Creative Foundation kicks off", by Awawa Bassey/Eka Ekang • Artifact "The madness of the mad rush", by J. O. S. Edigbe • 1993 Nigerian Artists: "Nigerian Artists: A Who's Who and bibliography, by Janet L. Stanley & Bernice Kelly of Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington U.S.A. • 1990 Lagos Weekend, "Akinbolaji's Norms, Forms and Actions", by Aloy Ibeabuchi • 1990 Business Times, "Artist's works attracts Dollars", by Kodinlinye Obiagwu • 1990 Times International, "Creating Awareness", by Kodinlinye Obiagwu • 1990 Quality magazine, "A visualization of culture ", by Femi Ayo-Falana • 1988 The Financial Post, "A harvest of culture", by Augustine Njaogwuani • 1988 Megastar Magazine, "Prime Message", by J. O. S. Edigbe • May 1987 Nigerian Chronicle, "Precious gift at ‘Unicross’", by Patrick Albert • Feb. 1985 National Concord, "What role for artists", by Bayo Onanuga • Sept. 1984 The Guardian Newspaper, "The verve of a sapling", by Chuzzy Udenwa Art related work and professional experience: • (2001 - 2009) Art Director, Indian Life Newspaper, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. • (2000 - 2001) Illustrator and Designer, CW Newspaper • (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 Coll. of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos, Nigeria. • (1987/1989) Worked under supervision of Prof. Yusuf Grillo on sculptural project for First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. • (1987 - 1992) Participated in a number of Workshops for artists and art teachers. • (1994 - 1997) Curated several exhibitions for aspiring and emerging artists through Creative Foundation. • (1994 - 1996) Member 3-Man jury of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation/Shell Art Competition. Award: • (2008) McElroy-Edwards, Jackie Scholarship • (2003) Manitoba Arts Council Traveling Grant • (1998) Valerie Fostey Memorial Award • (1987) National Youth Service Chairman's Honour, Cross River State, Nigeria • (1983) An award in the National Painting Competition, organized by Mobil Producing Nigeria


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