Muraina Oyelami (b. 1940, Iragbiji) stands as one of Nigeria’s most influential modernist artists, renowned for his exceptional ability to create a rich visual diary that captures the landscapes, portraits, and emotions of everyday Nigerian life. His art began as an exploration of Yoruba culture and mythology and has since evolved into a broader exploration of emotions, colour and structure, characterized by a sombre, almost translucent palette that radiates warmth.

Oyelami’s journey into the visual arts began at the Mbari-Mbayo art workshop in Oshogbo in 1964, a pivotal moment in Nigerian art history. At 24, he was already a performer in the Duro Ladipo Theatre, yet he embraced the workshop’s encouragement to explore visual expression, despite having no formal art education. This creative incubator nurtured Oyelami’s passion for painting, giving rise to a lifelong commitment to Yoruba culture, expressed in vivid, meaningful brushstrokes. While pursuing this artistic path, he also studied theatre at Obafemi Awolowo University, taught African music there from 1975 to 1987, and travelled internationally as an ambassador of Yoruba drumming traditions. For Oyelami, these diverse pursuits were all part of the same creative source, a holistic approach to preserving Yoruba heritage.

During the late 1960s and 1970s, Oyelami emerged as a central figure in the Oshogbo School of Art, distinguishing himself through a unique blend of traditional and modern elements.

His work has been exhibited in major international exhibitions and institutions and is represented in collections such as the Studio Museum in Harlem, the National Museum of African Art, and the National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos.