An Interview with Adetunji Onigbanjo: Multidisciplinary Artist & VAA Member of the Month

Adetunji Onigbanjo – Artist Feature – VAA Member of the Month August 2025

Adetunji Onigbanj is a Nigerian Multidisciplinary Artist, based in Loughborough, UK, who draws inspiration for his artwork from his love of 1990s cartoons, and everyday life. Although only ever studying Fine Art at the Secondary School level, over the past decade, Adetunji has remained extremely consistent and ambitious in his practice.

He has worked with and exhibited with international brands and organisations globally, including his 4-month long commission with The Cartoon Network (Atlanta, USA), The Other Art Fair (London, UK), and his first solo exhibition, Neon (Lagos, Nigeria). Over the year, he has also created art for brands like Adidas, Rick and Morty, Redbull, Budweiser, and Art X Lagos (Live).  Adetunji’s practice is based on his love for 90’s cartoons, pop culture, his everyday life and attention to detail. Being entirely self-taught, Adetunji is very spontaneous, and accustomed to exploring new ideas, styles, techniques and mediums.

On his work:

“My work aims to spread joy and preserve the positive emotions tied to childhood nostalgia, while actively challenging the common stereotype that African art must revolve around poverty or generational trauma. Through my practice, I celebrate the vibrant, playful, and imaginative aspects of culture that shaped me. A large part of this comes from my love for 90s popular culture, including cartoons, video games, music, and television, which continues to influence the way I create. That era was colourful, expressive, and full of wonder, and I try to capture that same spirit in my work. At other times, when working on abstract pieces, I focus on colour, light, shadow, and precise linework as a way to experiment and grow artistically.”

Adetunji’s day really varies depending on whether it’s a weekday or weekend. Weekday’s if it is exhibition season or close to exhibition season, he wakes up at 5am, gets to his studio to draw, sketch and paint until 9am, before heading to his 9.30-6pm job. Spending his evening relaxing with dinner and TV, he then preps for art the next day before getting rest. However, if there is a looming deadline, then his sleep is disrupted till around midnight or in worst cases, 3am.

Weekends are more fluid for his, often waking up later, getting to the studio at midday, planning and painting until 8pm, then resting, before repeating the next day.

Currently, Adetunji is a resident artist at Modern Painters, New Decorators (Loughborough), and an associate artist with Izwi Art (Somerset). His most recent project is an outdoor installation at the award-winning Up to the Beacon Sculpture Trail, Leicestershire. Adetunji was commissioned by Artspace Loughborough, to create an octatycph that depicts the surrounding animals and plantlife native to the Beacon Hill Country Park.

To learn more about Adetunji’s work, head over to his website: https://www.lawyartist.com/ and follow his Instagram: @lawyartist 

What is your creative process? What outlook guides you?

The meaning of artistic success often changes for me and depends on what is happening in my life at the time. However, at its core, I believe true success comes when my work is recognisable, inspires others, and is valued on its own terms, independent of my personal presence or explanation. It means creating something that resonates deeply enough with people that it stands on its own and continues to have impact beyond my initial creation. For me, that kind of lasting connection and influence through art is what defines success, more than fame or financial gain alone ever could.

What are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of? What are some of the highlights from the past 12 months?

Balancing my art practice alongside a full-time 9-to-5 job is currently my biggest challenge. I’m actively working toward transitioning into a full-time art career or securing a role that aligns more closely with my creative goals, such as a graphic design position at a creative agency.

Often, the projects I feel most passionate about are not the most economically viable at the time, which creates a tension between artistic freedom, and financial stability. On top of that, managing day-to-day responsibilities of an art career, such as writing emails, budgeting, following up with contacts, experimenting with new ideas, and trusting my instincts can feel overwhelming.

Another challenge is navigating galleries timelines; it often requires a great deal of patience, especially when galleries you’re interested in have exhibitions booked a year or two in advance. Transporting large-scale artworks is also a significant hurdle, both logistically and financially. For example, for my exhibition at The Other Art Fair in March 2025, transporting four large canvases from Loughborough to London and back cost nearly £600, which is a considerable expense for an independent artist.

“Maintaining that balance and staying consistent is one of the toughest parts of growth. Whenever I feel stuck or overloaded, I take a short break, then reset with a focused to do list prioritised by urgency and impact”

There are many pieces of advice I have received from others and discovered myself over time, but the most important one, for many reasons, is this: remember why you started.

On one hand, it reminds you to stay connected to your core values and the reasons you chose to become an artist in the first place. This can be especially powerful during creative slumps, offering a sense of purpose and direction when you need it most. It also helps shape the path of your practice. For example, my love for 90s cartoons and pop culture helped me answer the essential question of what kind of artist I am.

What Career Goal is your current priority? How has the VAA helped your journey so far?

This one is so simple. I would say “Very well done, keep going, there’s so much more!”

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