Acclaimed artist heading to Oldham

Internationally-acclaimed artist Titus Agbara is visiting Gallery Oldham to give a talk about his career and what motivates him.

Agbara, who combines his career as an artist with his role as a care assistant, will give his talk on September 27 at 7pm at Gallery Oldham.

The talk is made possible through Art Talks with Art Fund, a national programme of artist talks around contemporary art in museums across the UK.

Born in 1974 in Lagos, Agbara studied art at the School of Art and Design, Federal Polytechnic in Auchi, Nigeria.

He worked full-time as an artist before moving to London in 2007, and Oldham in 2016.

At the end of 2017, Art Fund – the national fundraising charity for art – helped Gallery Oldham to purchase Agbara’s painting Damilola.

The portrait was one of two paintings Agbara submitted to the Oldham Open in 2017.

Both pieces were accepted and on the opening night the curatorial team decided to obtain funding to add Damilola to Oldham's collection.

Agbara's work is in the National Museum Lagos, Nigeria but this is the first time a European museum has acquired his work.

He has taken part in Sky Art Portrait Artist of the Year 2014 and Sky Art Landscape Artist of the Year 2015 and 2016.

He describes his main interest as being landscape and the everyday.

He often paints in oils but also watercolour and pastels.

Damilola will be on display in Oldham Stories at Gallery Oldham until the end of 2018.

Councillor Paul Jacques, Cabinet Member for Education and Culture, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome talented and renowned artists to Oldham, but this is particularly special as he’s one of our own.

“We’re confident that art lovers far and wide will come to meet Titus in person and learn more about his incredible work.

“Gallery Oldham is a wonderful asset for our borough and will be a stunning location for such a great event.

"I’d like to encourage everyone to come and visit and as well as meeting Titus take in all the other amazing exhibits on display.”

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