Olowe of ise biography
Olowe of ise door!
Olowe of Ise
Yoruba artist
Olowe of Ise (Yoruba: Ọlọ́wẹ̀ of Ìsẹ̀; c. 1873 – c. 1938)[1][2] is considered by Western art historians and collectors to be one of the most important 20th century artists of the Yoruba people of what is today Nigeria.[3][4][5] He was a woodsculptor and master innovator in the African style of design known as oju-ona.
Olowe of ise biography
Olowe, originally Olowere, was born in Efon-Alaiye, a town known as a major cultural centre in Yorubaland, but he lived most of his life in the city of Ise. He was initially employed as a messenger at the court of King Arinjale, the Oba of Ise.
It is a matter of dispute whether his artistic career began as an apprenticeship or arose purely from his own natural talent. His fame as a sculptor appears to have begun at Ise under the patronage of Arinjale before spreading throughout eastern Yorubaland.
Olowe was summoned to Ilesa, Ikere, Akure, Idanre, Ogbagi and