The Story Of An Award-Winning Nigerian Metal Sculptor Who Refused To Give In To Discouragement From Friend, Galleries When Starting off

Dotun Popoola is a young talented Nigerian contemporary metal sculptor whose works of art have been described by scholars as "hybrid synergetic metal sculptures".

Dotun who fondly calls himself a Corporate Welder of the Federal Republic of Nigeria creates astonishingly beautiful and super realistic art edifices from discarded metal scraps. What he does is simply "turning trash to treasures and rubbish to rubies".

But little did anyone including his fans and collectors however know that this internationally acclaimed art superstar could have easily given up the dream of creating amazing aesthetics for the world to see from ordinary metal wastes.

In a recent post via his Instagram page, Dotun shared the story of how those who were supposed to be a source of motivation and encouragement turned out to be a serious threat to his dream.

"Few years ago I started creating this series of colourful hybrid sculptures, a friend looked at me with a pitty and said who will ever put all this "pàntí" in their home?, I could remember my response was funny and emphatic! I said kings and big boys will patronize my art! 

"As at that moment i didn't have a clue to how it will happen, i struggled to get galleries to showcase my works, some of them said i dont have a "name" but today they know my name and even used my name to sell plagiarized copy of my works for people.

"Sincerely I wouldn't have arrived here without the help of God and the beautiful people in my life. I will forever be greatful to Nigeria and Nigerians who have supported me tremendously especially Lagosians. 

"Special thanks to my fellow artists who never left me alone and many collectors that kept me busy round the clock. Let's make 2022 bigger and better. Ese gannnnnnnnnnnn.", he posted.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1981, Dotun holds two separate Degrees in Fine and applied arts (specializing in sculpture) and painting respectively from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in addition to obtaining a National Diploma in painting and General Arts from Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, where he graduated as the best student in painting and general arts in 2004. 

The Nigerian super talented artist has participated in twenty-nine group exhibitions, fourteen joints, and four solo exhibitions with several arwards and recognitions to his credits both nationally and internationally including the Director General’s Award of Best Artist of the year in the maiden NYSC arts competition in 2009.

In 2021, he was among the 100 trailblazing African Youths to receive the Royal African Young Leadership Forum (RAYLF) Awards powdered by the global outreach initiative of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, held at Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University.