Emmanuel Olaniyi ABIODUN

Emmanuel Olaniyi ABIODUN is a textile artist, researcher, and educator whose practice centres on embroidery, yarn painting, and contemporary textile discourse. He holds both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Fine and Applied Arts and a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Textile Design from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. His teaching and research interests span textile design, fibre arts, material culture, studio practice, African visual traditions, and contemporary approaches to textile-based narratives. His scholarly and studio explorations interrogate identity, interdependence, symbolism, and the socio-cultural relevance of textile practices in contemporary African art. Abiodun is a member of the Textile Researchers Association of Nigeria (TRAN) and serves on the National Organising Committee of the Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF), where he is also the pioneering coordinator of the Osun region. He has received notable recognitions, including the Best Textile and Fashion Award at LIMCAF (2022) and Top 5 Winner, Next of Kin Series 7 by Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Lagos (2025). His works have been exhibited nationally and internationally in Nigeria, Senegal, China, and the United States, including exhibitions such as Silk Road International Exhibition (2025), Legacy (2025), +234 Art Fair (2025), Next of Kin (2025), Dakar Biennial-Off (2024), and Art Beat Miami (2020), among others.

Abiodun’s professional career spans academic instruction, community engagement, and industry collaboration. He has served as a World Health Organization (WHO) observer for Measles campaigns, NYSC textile facilitator, and trainer for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), using textile art as a tool for skill development and empowerment. He has also collaborated with leading Nigerian fashion brands, reinforcing interdisciplinary connections between fine art and fashion practice. Through research, teaching, and professional practice, Emmanuel Olaniyi Abiodun remains committed to advancing textile art scholarship, expanding contemporary African visual narratives, and mentoring the next generation of artists and cultural thinkers.