Interview with: Artist Adebanji Alade

Target Publication: “Time Out” London, Magazine. The Magazine has an “Art” section in which it regularly publishes articles either reviewing exhibitions or interviewing artists. Adebanji’s (rags to riches )success story would inspire many artists out there, who are perhaps struggling to find success.

Title: The Path to Success Nobody Tells You About

 

“When I came back to London, I couldn’t fit in. It was a culture shock. I have to say for once in my life I wanted to quit art.” It’s hard to believe that these words, radiating an energy of deep dejection, come from Adebanji Alade, the Addictive Sketcher, who epitomises every artist’s dream of success, himself. But behind the façade of recognition and achievement, his path to becoming the first black member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painterswas paved by rejection.

 

Indeed, there is yawning gap between the Hackney-born artist’s initial qualification by the Nigerian Yaba College of Technology in 1997, and his acclaim to membership of the prestigious Royal Institute of Oil Painters of London in 2015, just one of his many achievements.

 

Adebanji is an artist of many media, though his heart has always lain with the basics: sketching. His first introduction to art at the age of six was through sketching, which now, years of continuous development later, still defines his work as an artist.

 

 

 

“If people wanted to remember me, let them remember me for this,” Adebanji states, confidently patting his hand on one of the innumerable mountains of sketchbooks that fill the surfaces of every desk in the studio. On the walls, a myriad of portraits and landscapes in all shapes and sizes; the physical manifestation of hard work.

 

Today, Adebanji has parlayed his success into a membership of the Guild of Fine Art; the Council of the Chelsea Art Society; a regular part in The BBC’s One Showinterviewing celebrities such as Jeremy Paxman while sketching them; a blog with a huge following; multitudes of exhibitions, motivational workshops and more.

 

Adebanji, however, begins his story at a time when he was bereft of hope and financial security, with only his wife supporting him.

 

In 1997, The exciting prospect of starting his career as an artist drew Adebanji back to London at the age of 27. “I came with all my African art,” Adebanji remembers, “they were not embracing it here. It hurt so badly because I thought everything I’d gained in Nigeria, but nobody was into it.”

 

Facing continuous cycles of rejection upon submitting his works to exhibitions, Adebanji fell into what he retrospectively describes as depression. His promising dream to pursue a career as an artist was burst by the reality of exclusion from the English art world. He quickly encountered the cultural differences that also extend themselves to the art world.

Spending just a few moments in his presence, it’s hard to believe that the Addictive Sketcher, exuding the exciting, magnetic and passionate energy of an artist and motivational coach, too, has experienced hardship.

 

Struggling to put his talent to work, Adebanji turned to a teaching job at St. Mungo’s, a homeless charity in the early 2000s. “I thought okay, if I can’t do anything here, I need to volunteer and help someone.”

 

Working as an activity and talent development worker, Adebanji taught basic art skills to the homeless, often also taking them to galleries and museums. “It was very fulfilling”, he smiles.

 

Just sitting across from him, I can feel Adebanji’s aura of wisdom and experience, as he explains his story. There is no doubt, Adebanji has mastered the skill of learning from mistakes in life.

 

“The worst thing that always hit me, is that there’s a thin line between where we are, and being homeless. I had a paradigm shift – I saw directors, I saw doctors, I saw company owners, ended up on the street. Being in that environment wasn’t easy, but it was rewarding seeing them move on from it.”

 

But I ask on behalf of all dreamers who have experienced struggle: how did you snap out of the rut?

 

Adebanji traces this moment back to Nigeria. It was when he was reunited with all of his well-known artist friends, that a switch flipped in his mind.

 

“They were asking me what are you doing with your life now in London? And I was ashamed I couldn’t say anything,” he says.

 

One day at morning prayers, one of Adebanji’s friends read a biblical verse about Samson, a man who is given superhuman strength through his hair. But when he is betrayed by his lover, Delilah, his hair is cut and he loses his strength. Despite this, Samson heroically hauls himself out of the rut and regains his strength.

 

“Creative people, the thing about us is that when we’re not creating, we’re not serving our purpose,” Adebanji had realized.

 

If there’s one thing that sets apart the leaders from the lost, it’s the ability to form clear goals. Adebanji was going back to London; back to his art. He was going to listen to his heart.

And so, in 2003, London would see a new Adebanji: someone with an open mind and determination. He would start from scratch, attending the Heatherley School of Fine Art from 2003-2005 to “learn what the British appreciate”.

 

He says: “If you’re hungry for something and you’re determined to get it, every door will open for you because you’ve changed your mind set.”

 

“I mean were the schools not already there? They were,” he laughs.

 

In the abundance of stories Adebanji tells me, there is one striking trend: he stays persistent, but changes his approach.

 

It was this determination, that brought about a miracle in Adebanji’s career.

 

The Royal Institute of Oil painters is the association of leading oil painters in in the country. Founded in 1882, it is notorious for its exhibitions that maintain a ‘standard of excellence’. Adebanji shot for the stars. He would continuously submit his works to the institute through many cold years of rejection, but remained faithful he was going to make it.

 

In 2006, the unexpected “D” for doubtful that he received for one of his submissions, fuelled the fire in Adebanji, to dream even bigger.

 

In 2012, he was elected an associate member of the Royal Institution followed by the big break: he would become a full member in 2015. “I was ecstatic! Over the moon!”

 

Adebanji Alade exemplifies what happens when you dream big and have faith in yourself. This is advice we are taught at a very young age, but Adebanji is one of the very few that applied it, with only his dreams to model the way.

 

When he excitedly tells his story, Adebanji can’t help but interweave his recount with limitless gems of advice he’d gleaned from what others may describe as failures. Adebanji however, remains humble and grateful for all of his experiences.

 

“I want to stand for the fact that it’s possible.”

• article written by Helly Ifeagwu.