Meet Luke Agada, the visionary painter from Lagos who is taking the art world by storm with his profound exploration of globalization, migration, and cultural dislocation. His abstract figurative paintings, featuring distorted figures and dream-like compositions, symbolize the complexities of hyphenated identities and the evolution of the human figure in modern art history. Agada’s work delves into the ambiguity of identity within post-structuralist theory, creating a visual narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking.
Having moved to the United States and obtained his MFA in painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Agada has been contemplating the transient nature of the human condition. His surrealist-inspired paintings portray disembodied figures floating in ethereal spaces, capturing the intersections of time and space in our postmodern world. These pieces reflect the intricate identities shaped in the liminal spaces of migration and cultural exchange, revealing the profound contradictions and tensions of contemporary human existence.
![Arms, Feet and Fitful Dreams, 96” x 72” (diptych), 2023Oil on canvas Image courtesy of the Artist and Monique Meloche Gallery](https://ourculturemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_1749-scaled.jpeg)
Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of the Artist and Monique Meloche Gallery
Agada’s recent solo exhibition, “Arms, Feet and Fitful Dreams,” is inspired by a poignant New York Times article on the migrant crisis in New York, shedding light on the struggles of African migrants in the US. His paintings in this show reference architecture, the human body, trade symbols, and animals, creating a space where past and present converge. The rich palette of dark browns, reds, blues, and tans evokes a psychological landscape where old memories are enmeshed but not always clear.
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Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of the Artist and Monique Meloche Gallery
As a self-taught artist, Agada draws inspiration from a diverse array of sources, including influential figures in art and literature, personal experiences, and global dialogues. The modernists and old masters of the 20th century, alongside emigre artists of the New York School, greatly influence his work. His migration journey aligns with theirs, shaping his unique artistic style.
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Agada’s artistic process is investigative and fluid, often beginning with establishing surface texture with paint and forming shapes through a dry brush application. He avoids linear narratives or overt pictorial representations, instead drawing from a broad visual vocabulary that captures his memories and sense of place and time in the diaspora. Painting serves as a language for Agada, a medium through which he processes and comprehends thoughts. Despite the effort involved, he finds his practice therapeutic and values the solitude it provides, enabling him to center himself and concentrate on his creative endeavors.
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Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of the Artist and Monique Meloche Gallery
Despite the challenges he faces, Agada has achieved significant milestones in his career, such as earning his MFA, securing a supportive gallery, and receiving positive feedback on his work. These accomplishments underscore the cultural and societal significance of his art.
Agada’s work transcends stereotypes, reflecting his identity as a proud African artist. By occupying a “Third Space,” a hybrid realm where cultural purity is unattainable, he navigates the global art scene. This perspective is evident in his thematic exploration of “Rootlessness” and the “Crisis of Identity,” prevalent in diasporic literature and art.
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Looking ahead, Agada plans to maintain his introspective and investigative approach to art. He dedicates substantial time to his studio practice in preparation for an upcoming solo exhibition in September. By challenging conventional perceptions of reality and highlighting key human experiences, Agada’s work continues to make a significant contribution to contemporary art discourse.
Living in an increasingly interconnected world, Agada believes that artists play a crucial role in reflecting, channeling, and piecing together thoughts that shift society’s perspective and emphasize essential aspects of the human experience. His art not only challenges perceptions but also fosters a deeper understanding of the complexities of identity and migration in our postcolonial era.