Today we’d like to introduce you to Bukola Adeosun.
Hi Bukola, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I moved to America at 18, left my family in Nigeria, and honestly, it was the hardest time of my life because I was maltreated where I was and missed home. Leaving Nigeria, the goal was to attend college and go to medical school and eventually become a doctor. However, I attended Howard community college and university of Maryland Baltimore County and met so many people that shaped my American experience. I fell more in love with my creative side, took art classes, auditioned, and modeled for fashion events at school. I realized that my creative side was my favorite part of me, and even though I knew little or I barely knew how to walk in heels, I kept trying and learned a lot. Today I am published creative with publications from Vogue Italia, Museum of Modern Art New York, I have walked for Paris fashion week, and I believe God was able to bless the little I had done because I did not give up completely (I took breaks). I stopped modeling after I graduated college because I felt that “I’m an adult and have to focus on my 9-5 career”. So, I worked at a School of medicine and quickly realized that my salary would not be enough to afford med school or dental applications. So, I took another job where I worked in a warehouse. I would leave my 9-5, take a nap, shower, and then go to Amazon warehouse in attempts to make enough money to afford it. painfully the money I made was enough to apply to 2 and a half medical schools, and there was primary and secondary applications (gut-wrenching). I was so disheartened that I thought to myself, “I am in my early 20s; I should be doing fun things”, so my options were making Art or modeling. didn’t have enough resources to afford the kind of art supplies I needed, so I pivoted to my old love modeling. I quickly connected with models, did collaborations, and with one step in from of the other, my glorified hobby became one of my favorite things to ever do. With limited budgets, I was the model, hair stylist, wardrobe staff, creative director, and makeup artist. I always chose public places because I was still aware that I was meeting total strangers in most cases, so museums, parks, and school grounds were my top locations which eventually became a signature. However, with raw creativity and explosive art, there will always be imitators, and that was something I could not stand. I appreciate finding inspiration in art but copying art created by others and passing it off as your own rubs me the wrong way. So, my fun hobby was infiltrated with frustrations, and that made me feel exploited. Soon enough the zeal to create every other weekend faded away and in the journey to find myself and what I like in this phase of my life, I fell back in love with Texture Art.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wish it was all smooth sailing, but it was far from it. When it dawned on me that med school applications were impossibly expensive, I thought to myself, “I am in my early 20s; I should be doing fun things”, so my options were making Art or modeling. I didn’t have enough resources to afford the kind of art supplies I needed, so I pivoted to my old love modeling. I quickly connected with models, did collaborations, and with one step in from of the other, my glorified hobby became one of my favorite things to ever do. My budget was limited, which was basically nonexistent, so I was the hair stylist, wardrobe staff, creative director, and makeup artist for 90 percent of my photoshoots. I always chose public places because I was still aware that I was meeting total strangers in most cases, so museums, parks, and school grounds were my top locations which eventually became a signature. However, with raw creativity and explosive art there will always be imitators, and that was something I had trouble with. I appreciate finding inspiration in art, but I ended up having situations where people photocopied my work and tried passing it off as your own. Soon enough, my fun hobby was infiltrated with frustrations, and that made me feel exploited, and the zeal to create faded away. I was faced with 2 options either speak up about it or let it stress and drain my creative juices. So, I decided to speak up, and it felt great! the slump I was in slowly disappeared, and now I model and create textured Art. Even though I still model, Art has always been my true love, and when I struggle with life events I cannot control, I pour my emotions into creating Art, and honestly, it’s like therapy.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a texture artist and model. If I were to describe my art in a sentence, I would say it is a juxtaposition of abstract and figurative art. I specialize in texture art from plater to joint compound and everything in between. My inspiration comes from my cultural background, fashion, and fascinating architecture. Some of my art pieces are symmetrical, while others have organic shapes and colors. I make art that evokes thoughts which I feel is fascinating.
I am most proud of creating unique work that my clients love and having notable credibility from Vogue Italia publications and a modeling project being exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York. I recently started acting and was fortunate to act in an HBO short series based on Baltimore called We Own This City on HBO max.
My favorite Art piece so far is the pseudo abstract art piece I made for a client called “Siwani” it means Swan in Yoruba (West African Language from Nigeria), and you can see it and order a custom piece on my website www.bukola.art
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory was going to my grandparents’ house, especially during Christmas season because all my favorite cousins were there, and we would have so much fun. We would play games, draw, build sandcastles that really looked like molehills, helping my grandmother pick beans and cook so she could tell me so many stories, and I secretly wanted to learn all her recipes because she was the best cook ever. My grandpa would bring back snacks on his way from work (he always looked so dapper and had great style), and he would buy the latest sparklers for the younger ones and fireworks for his daring grandkids, and we would use them on Christmas Eve all the way to New Year’s Day. It was the best time of my childhood; I am so grateful for my grandparents, and I miss them every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bukola.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bukola.art/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bukola-adeosun-343a4b197/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/buk_ola_
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/bu.kola/?hl=en
