Renaissance Reformed: Anticipated exhibition by Oshundaro, opens, excites art community

Yesterday, some discerning visual art connoisseurs, famosu collectors, diplomats, among other dignitaries stormed Temple Muse, a leading luxury concept store in Victoria Island, Lagos, for an unarguably exhibition of the year.

They gathered for the opening of Renaissance Reformed, a solo exhibition by Daniel ‘Pengrapher’ Oshundaro, a multidisciplinary artist from Oyo State, which is being presented by Temple Muse.

The presence of Hannatu Musa Musawa, minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, at the opening, reflected how big the artist is, why the exhibition and the high level of curating matter.

Curated by Avinash D. Wadhwani, the exhibition, which runs from March 1-30, 2025, features both recent and not-too-recent works by Oshundaro, across paintings, sculpture, and his signature pen pals.

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Prior to the opening of the compelling solo exhibition, on Saturday February 28, 2025, Oshundaro, a multidisciplinary artist, got all eyes glued on the wall, where he engaged l, entertained and enthralled all with a live painting of his largest work on canvas.

The work, which he titled “The Last Supper”, allowed visitors at Temple Muse to follow the artist as he painstakingly paint, show off skills and techniques as well as take them through stress an average artist passes through in delivering an adorable work.

From 8am that day, Oshundaro kept his brush busy on the canvas until the next day, when he finished the painting, though resting at some point.

Beyond the large format live painting, the other works on display at the exhibition delve into the artist’s transformative exploration of identity,
materiality, and the interplay between self and environment.

Moreover, the exhibition’s title captures Oshundaro’s reimagining of classical
masterpieces through a contemporary lens. By weaving elements of graffiti, surrealism, and figurative abstraction into the reinterpretations, he bridges the past with the present, offering a
fresh perspective on time-honored artistic traditions.

Known for his striking fusion of surrealism, figurative abstraction, graffiti, sculpture, and
creative photography, he brings his personal and artistic journey to the forefront. Having lived in
Nigeria and Eastern Europe, his work is an ongoing dialogue between cultural landscapes and artistic reinvention. Utilizing diverse materials such as oil, acrylic, spray paint, emulsions, carbon fiber, bronze, polyester, and terracotta, his pieces reflect resilience, fragility, and the ever-evolving nature of self-expression.

His work seamlessly fuses African heritage with European influences, creating a universal dialogue on identity and transformation. They serve not just as visual statements but as calls to unity, compassion, and introspection.

For Avinash D. Wadhwani, the curator, the exhibition is simply “a reawakening, a manifesto of transformation that challenges us to redefine how we see and engage with the world through artistic expression”.

Central to the exhibition is Oshundaro’s belief in active creation—an idea captured in his philosophy of “PEN PALS,” a recurring character that symbolizes friendship, mutual respect, and shared responsibility. Through the pals, Oshundaro conveys the belief that art has the power to heal societal divides and cultivate empathy. His practice extends beyond the gallery,
with murals that transform public spaces into places of community engagement and reflection.

He holds a BA in Creative Art from the University of Lagos, and a BA in Sculpture from the Academy of Arts, Novi Sad, Serbia. He also holds a master’s degree from the University of Novi Sad and was recently awarded the prestigious ERASMUS+ scholarship to study at the Academy of Fine and Applied Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia.

His work has been featured in publications such as Le Monde, BUSINESSDAY, Dnevnik I, N1 VESTI, The Rwanda Times, The Guardian Nigeria News, Metal Magazine, Global Times Magazine, and more.

Of course, there are many reasons to see the exhibition, which marks a significant milestone for Oshundaro.

It features the largest number of pieces he has ever displayed.

The artist is able to present a diverse range of artistic expressions, providing an immersive and multifaceted experience for visitors, all courtesy of Temple Muse, which is continuing in its tradition of nurturing local talent and offering its clients cutting-edge contemporary art from Africa and beyond.

Also, the exhibition marks his long-awaited return to Nigeria after four years in Serbia, making it a homecoming celebration filled with anticipation from friends, family, and patrons.

The exhibition is sponsored by ZTL Liquid Transfer Limited and Chivas Regal, with a promise of offering a visually captivating and introspective experience, where the boundaries between awareness, intuition, and artistic expression are fluidly explored.

Once again, it opened to the public on March 1st, and runs until March 30th, 2025.