Lamidi Olonade Fakeye

Lamidi Olonade Fakeye is a fifth generation carver of the highly respected Fakeye family. During his long career, he achieved great fame around the world as one of the greatest African artists of modern times.

Fakeye's work appears in many private  collections, as well as the permanent collections of institutions such as the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

Equestrian Figure - Lamidi Fakeye

A retrospective exhibition of Fakeye's life work was held at the Smithsonian during 1999. The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened between December 1999 and January 2000. These exhibitions illustrated the living tradition of the Osi-Ilurin school that Fakeye grew from.

Lamidi Fakeye was born in Orangun, Nigeria in 1928. He was given the prophetic middle name Olonade which means "the carver has arrived." The family name Fakeye is an honorific title that the king of Ila bestowed upon his great grandfather for of his artistic accomplishments.

George Bamidele Arowoogun  - 1945

Lamidi Olonade Fakeye's career began at age ten when he carved his first piece and began studying traditional Yoruba art under his father. In 1949, he was apprenticed to the master carver George Bamidele Arowoogun. He worked with him a great deal, right up to his death.

Drum by Lamidi Fakeye

In 1960 Fakeye's his first son was born and he had his first solo art exhibit in Nigeria.

In 1978 he became an instructor at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife Nigeria, where he unveiled his incredible statue of Odudua.

Fakeye served as artist-in-residence at several prestigious American universities between 1989 and 1995. Fakeye died at 84 in Ile-Ife Nigeria, on the 25th of December 2009.
 

Lamidi Fakeye figures in private collections.

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Lamidi Olonade Fakeye

1928 Lamidi Olonade Fakeye born in Ila Orangun, Nigeria.

1938 Carves his first sculpture and apprentices to his father.

1949 Begins apprenticeship to master sculptor George Bamidele Arowoogun.

1955 Takes his first job as an art instructor at Holy Cross Primary School (Lagos, Nigeria).

1960 First son is born and first solo exhibition opens at British Council (Nigeria).

1962 Serves as artist-in-residence at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Michigan).

1964 Elected president of Society of Professional Artists of Nigeria; exhibit opens at United States Information Service (Nigeria).

1971 Exhibit of three generations of Fakeye woodcarvers opens (Ibadan, Nigeria).

1973 Received commission for Kennedy Center Africa Room doors (Washington, D.C.).

1978 Appointed to the faculty of University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria).

1987 Unveils Oduduwa statue at University of Ife; retrospective opens at Western Michigan University gallery.

1989 Awarded Oyo State, Nigeria, Special Merit Award.

1989 Serves as artist-in-residence at universities in Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta.

1995 Makes pilgrimage to Mecca.

1996 Publishes autobiography; retrospective exhibit opens at Hope College (Holland, Michigan).

1999 Appointed Kellogg Visiting Artist for Michigan; Smithsonian retrospective exhibit.

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