Born in Ondo, Nigeria
Lives and works in Winnipeg, Canada since 1997
EDUCATION
2009 - University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A. - MFA (with distinction)
2000 - Red River College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Advertising Art (Graphic design) Diploma
1986 - Yaba College of Arts and Technology, Lagos, Nigeria - HND (BFA) - Major in Painting
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
May 1 -19, 2012 New Art Center, 580 8th Avenue, New York, New York.
October 17 - 21, 2011 “Unconventional” Gupta Centre CNIB, Winnipeg Manitoba.
July 18 – Aug. 12, 2009 “Dignity Within” Empire Arts Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
April 27 – May 1, 2009 “Street Bound” Eugene Myers Art Gallery, University of North Dakota.
June 23, 2007 “Peace and Purpose - Art exhibition and mosaic unveiling” 71 Elsbury Bay, Winnipeg, MB.
April 6 – May 14, 2006 “Dance out of Injustice” Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre, Winnipeg.
Nov. 2005 – Jan. 2006 “Scenes of Hope” Gas Station Theatre, Osborne Village, Winnipeg.
Feb. 1997 “Impressions” National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria.
Nov. 1995 “Balanced Diet Through Colours” Chevron Nigerian Place, Victoria Island, Lagos.
May 1994 “Colours and Forms in Action” National Museum, Lagos.
Nov. 1990 “Norms & Forms” ARCO Petrochemical, Victoria Island, Lagos.
April 1990 “Harvest of Medium” Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Sept. – Oct. 1988 “Prime Message” Western Geophysical Ltd/National Museum Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria.
May 1987 “National Youth Service Corpers' Exhibition” University of Cross River State, Uyo, Nigeria.
March 1985 “Direction of Perspective” Adeyemi Coll. of Education, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
March 25 - 27, 2011, “Multi-Layering Experience”, Art Expo New York , Pier 94.
March 17 - 20, 2011, “Multi-Layering Experience”, The Artists Project New York, Pier 92.
Nov. 4 - 7, 2010 Manitoba Juried Art Expo at Winnipeg Assiniboia Downs
Mar. 3 – Mar. 28, 2010 “Show Some Emotion” Sixth Street Gallery, Vancouver, WA.
Sept. 8 – Sept. 28, 2009 “Six Artists, One Voice” Joseph D. Carrier Gallery, Toronto, ON.
Sept. 17 – Nov. 21, 2008 “Invisible Dignity” King's University College, Edmonton, AB.
Oct. 2 – Oct. 16, 2008 - Manitoba Society of Artists, Winnipeg Conservatory Exhibition, Winnipeg, MB.
March 8-May 5, 2008 - Manitoba Arts and Culture Week, Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg.
Sept. 22-Nov. 17, 2007 “Invisible Dignity” Mennonite Heritage Center Gallery, Winnipeg.
Sept. 24-Nov. 17, 2007 “Invisible Dignity” John Fairbank Memorial Library, Booth College, Winnipeg, MB.
May 2007 “Arts Rental and Sale Juried Exhibition” Winnipeg Art Gallery
March 17-April 29, 2005 “Ethics & Aesthetics Series”, Salvation Army Centre, Winnipeg, MB.
June 1 – July 31, 2003 “Manitoba Society of Artists 71st Juried Art Exhibition”.
July 18-August 23, 2003 Nicole Gallery, Chicago.
July 25-August 1, 2003 “Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery’s CARICOM Art Expo”
June 21 – Sept. 15, 2001 “Why Art?” Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery, Winnipeg, MB.
April – June 2001 “Juried Exhibition” Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB.
June – Sept. 2001 “Juried Exhibition” 100th Anniversary, Manitoba Society of Artists
Sept. 1999 “Fall Open Jury” Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB.
May 1999 “Diversity” Center for Intercultural Development, Red River College, Winnipeg, MB.
Nov. – Dec. 1998 Mennonite Heritage Center Gallery, Winnipeg, MB.
Sept. – Oct. 1998 “Fall Open Jury” Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB.
May 1998 “Mosaic” Center for Intercultural Development, Red River College, Winnipeg, MB.
Feb. – April 1998 “Rise With the Sun” Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature, Winnipeg.
June 1993 “Mixed Dimension” American Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria.
Sept. – Oct. 1985 “Visual Solution” National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Lagos, Nigeria.
ART-RELATED EXPERIENCE/APPOINTMENT
October 12, 2010 Manitoba Arts Council, Board Member (Three year appointment)
June 9, 2010 Manitoba Arts Council Jury Member, Artist in Community Residency and the Community Connection and Access
June 10, 2010 Artist Presentation for Heartland International English School, sponsored by The Dominion Institute of Toronto
February 4, 2010Artist Presentation for University of Manitoba International Students, sponsored by The Dominion Institute of Toronto
Jan. 18–22, 2010 Professional Artist Series Workshop, Art City Inc., Winnipeg, MB
April 21, 2008 Artist Presentation for St. James Collegiate, Winnipeg, sponsored by sponsored by The Dominion Institute of Toronto
Feb. 8, 2007 Guest speaker at the Canadian Association of Planning Students conference on “Cultural planning: Integrating the Everyday”
Jan. 24, 2007 Advisory member CBC ARTSPOTS, Winnipeg, Manitoba
1988 – 1997 Fine Art Instructor, Lagos State Model College, Badore, Lagos, Nigeria
1988 – 1989 Lecturer, Painting & Drawing, Lagos State College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos (Part-Time)
1987 – 1992 Participated in a number of workshops for artists and art teachers
1994 – 1997 Curated several exhibitions for aspiring and emerging artists
PUBLICATION AND MEDIA PREVIEWS/REVIEWS
November/December 2011 Cover and page 30 “TOP Emerging Artists” Art Business News, New York by Jennifer M. Wood
November 22, 2011, “Sharing the journey with Yisa Akinbolaji”, by Leigh Patterson, STYLE MANITOBA
October 26, 2011, “Donated mosaic celebrates peace, human purpose”, by Matt Prepost, Metro, Winnipeg Free Press
October 13, “Artist donates tactile mosaic to CNIB”, Staff Writer, Winnipeg Free Press
June 1, 2011, “Yisa Akinbolaji: Layers Upon Layers of Paint” by Cassie Behle, Empty Easel
September 22, 2009 - Guardian Newspaper “Six artists, one voice… Nigerian art thrills Toronto audience”
April 28, 2009 “Art show focuses on streets” by Sara Tazel
October 1, 2007“Art speaks to the dignity of all” by D. Froese, Canadian Mennonite Electronic News
September 22-23, 2007 CTV News by Caroline Barghout
September 22, 2007 Shaw TV Winnipeg
September 16, 2007 Winnipeg Free Press “Invisible Dignity: Multimedia project combines art, music, prayer” by Brenda Suderman
September 1, 2007 - ChristianWeek Newspaper "project gives dignity to society's "invisible" by K. Rempel
July 6, 2007 - Winnipeg Free Press "Artist’s mosaic ‘stopped traffic on the street" by Martin Zeilig
June 2006 - Global Eyes Magazine “Yisa enjoys success at solo exhibition” by Beatrice Watson
June 01, 2005 - Winnipeg Free Press, “Students learn to apply creative abilities to daily life”, Staff Writer
May 18, 2005 - Winnipeg Free Press, “Art show offers ethical alternative”, Staff Writer
May/June 2006 - Winnipeg WHERE Magazine. “Editor’s Choice” by Brad Hughes and Lindsay Duke
April 24, 2006 - CBC TV reported by Barbara Brunzell, News Now by Krista Erickson
April 13, 2006 - CBC Radio-Canada reported by Louis-Philippe Ouimet
April 6, 2006 - City TV Winnipeg
April 13-14, 2005 - Shaw TV Winnipeg
March 16, 2005 - The Herald Community Newspaper, Winnipeg
March 11, 2005 - A-Channel TV Big Breakfast, Winnipeg
Aug. 2000 - Trinity Television, "Light Talk", by Greg Musselman
Aug. 2000 - Trinity Television, "Light Talk", by Greg Musselman
July 1999 - CBC Television, "Canada Day National News", by Krista Erickson
Feb. 1998 - Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg, "Africa art serves up a sumptuous treat", by Garth Buchholz
June 1997 - Sunday Times, "Sharpening the mind through art", by Maurice Archibong
June 1997 - The Guardian Newspaper, "Creative Foundation discourse", by Steve Ayorinde
July 1994 - Lagos Weekend, "Yisa Akinbolaji's works mirror society", by Aloy Ibeabuchi
April 1994 - The Guardian on Sunday, "Model memorabilia", by Taofik Akanni
Jan. 1994 - Sunday Times, "Seminar on creativity", by Gabriel Dike
Jan. 1994 - Punch Newspaper, Creative Foundation kicks off", by Awawa Basseyand Eka Ekang
1993 - Nigerian Artists: A Who's Who & Bibliography, by Janet L. Stanley & Bernice Kelly of Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington, D.C., Oxford Press
1990 - Lagos Weekend, "Akinbolaji's Norms, Forms and Actions", by Aloy Ibeabuchi
1990 - Times International, "Creating Awareness", by Kodinlinye Obiagwu
1988 - The Financial Post, "A harvest of culture", by Augustine Njaogwuani
1988 - Megastar Magazine, "Prime Message", by J. O. S. Edigbe
Feb. 1985 - National Concord, "What role for artists", by Bayo Onanuga
Sept. 1985 - The Guardian Newspaper, "The verve of a sapling", by Chuzzy Udenwa
AFFILIATIONS
2000 – Present CARFAC - Canadian Artists' Representation
2001 – Present Manitoba Society of Artists (MSA) Member and Past President
2005 – Present Member, Manitoba Printmakers’ Association
AWARDS
(2008) McElroy-Edwards, Jackie Scholarship, USA
(2003) Winnipeg Arts Council Traveling Grant
(1998) Valerie Fostey Memorial Award, Canada
(1987) National Youth Service Chairman’s Honour, Cross River State, Nigeria
(1983) Second runner-up National Painting Competition, organized by Mobil Producing Nigeria
