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June Spotlight Artists: Muideen Abdulkadir, Gloria Mmaduako, and Hammed Abolaji Oba
- THE.CCART
- Jun 6
- 2 min read
This June, THE.CCART spotlights three Nigerian artists whose practices explore the emotional, social, and psychological dimensions of human experience. Muideen Abdulkadir, Gloria Mmaduako, and Hammed Abolaji Oba each bring a deeply considered perspective to figurative and expressive painting, drawing from identity, womanhood, and social realism to create work that is both visually compelling and culturally rooted. Together, their practices reflect the breadth and depth of contemporary painting emerging from Nigeria.
Muideen Abdulkadir: Painting the Inner Life
Muideen Abdulkadir is a Nigerian visual artist and clinical psychologist based in Abuja whose practice sits at the intersection of art and the human mind. Working with oil and acrylic on canvas, his paintings explore African identity through figures that embody trauma, survival, and healing, giving form to emotional experiences that are often carried in silence.
His background in psychology shapes both the direction and intention of his work, allowing him to move beyond surface observation and into the interior life of his subjects. Rooted in culture, human experience, and storytelling, Abdulkadir's paintings make visible what is rarely seen, inviting viewers to recognise and sit with the emotional truths his figures carry.
Gloria Mmaduako: Growth, Transformation, and the Power of Women
Gloria Mmaduako is a Nigerian visual artist based in Enugu whose work celebrates the strength, elegance, and resilience of women through abstract painting. Working with acrylic and oil on canvas, she weaves natural symbols, particularly leaves and flowers, into compositions that speak of transformation, renewal, and the enduring capacity for growth.
The leaf holds particular significance in her practice, drawn from the plant's ability to shed and renew itself as a metaphor for the possibilities life offers. Mmaduako incorporates African motifs and fabrics into her work, exploring human connection and shared experience while affirming the richness of African culture. Her paintings are layered with meaning, inviting viewers into a quiet but powerful dialogue about becoming.
Hammed Abolaji Oba: Texture, Gold, and the Weight of the Human Condition
Hammed Abolaji Oba is a Lagos-based social-realist painter and graduate of Yaba College of Technology whose work confronts the complexities of contemporary life with directness and depth. Working primarily with acrylic on canvas, he builds richly textured surfaces using palette knives and scourges, creating a physical presence that reflects the weight of his subjects.
A defining element of his practice is the deliberate use of gold paint, employed to elevate his figures and honour their inherent value. Weaving technical realism with traditional African motifs, Oba opens dialogues on economic disparity, religious influence, and the complexities of marriage and social life. His work is driven by a deep belief in equity and a recognition of the resilience required to move through the world, creating paintings that feel both urgent and deeply human.
This June, explore the work of Muideen Abdulkadir, Gloria Mmaduako, and Hammed Abolaji Oba. Through psychology, symbolism, and social realism, their paintings offer honest and considered perspectives on identity, endurance, and the human experience, reminding us of the power of art to make the invisible visible.
By THE.CCART
