CHRISTOPHER SAMUEL IDOWU

Christopher Samuel Idowu (b.1995) is an artist from Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria, who studied painting at the Yaba College of Technology. Working across diverse media such as mixed media, drawings, paintings, printmaking, and installations, his practice explores themes of time, memory, human interconnectedness, personal experiences, and spirituality. 

Through photography, Idowu collects images and materials from his surroundings to document fleeting earthly and lasting ethereal moments, inviting reflection and projecting hope. His work invites viewers to reflect on the deeper layers of existence. In his drawings, mixed media, and paintings, he often uses a wide range of materials, such as conte crayon, charcoal, pastel, watercolours, acrylics, and oils, to create pieces that  

resonate with the fleeting yet eternal nature of human life. His use of earthy tones and the patina of deteriorating photographs serves as a poignant reminder of the transience of time, encapsulating the statement that “from dust to dust we return.” This theme is explored further through his incorporation of spiritual elements and his engagement with liminal spaces, allowing his art to move beyond the physical realm and touch on ethereal realities. Idowu’s practice also includes community-engaged projects. 

His recent exhibitions include Matters of Essence, KO Art Space, Lagos, Nigeria, (group – 2024); ArtX Lagos, SMO Contemporary, Lagos, Nigeria, (group – 2023) My Benue Diary: Community project, Tyowanye, Buruku, Benue State, Nigeria (solo – 2023); Crossroads, SMO Contemporary in Lagos, Nigeria (group – 2022); Fragments, Subtitle Labs and Omer Tiroche gallery, Mayfair, London, UK (group – 2022); Wielding Power: On Display art exhibition, Gallery at the Landmark, Lagos, Nigeria (group - 2021). 

He currently lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. 

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