Meet Yewande Ambeke | Visual Artist and Pharmacist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yewande Ambeke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yewande, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
The ability to create a painting, look at it afterwards and have people appreciate it as much as I do is a feeling that gives me so much joy and satisfaction. It is better experienced than described, and I liked how it felt, so much that I started looking for ways to gain full control over my time. I didn’t want to spend the best years of my life working and being productive for another person and I certainly didn’t want to have any regrets later on in life.  So, I started saving and planning, working part-time whilst painting. And when I started making money off my art, I decided to pursue a career as a full-time artist and here I am today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In my work, I create swirly, abstracted figures as a representation of emotions that resides in the human mind. Initially, it was a bit difficult for me to  share my pieces online because I was transitioning from painting realistic dancers to almost undefinable figures. However, things started to pick up when I continued to upload new paintings on my Instagram page. I got a lot of positive reviews which meant a lot to me and served as the extra push I needed to keep at it. In all, I’m really proud of the fact that I have been able to carve a niche for myself. It wasn’t perfect neither was it easy, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m more of a stay at home person but there are lots of amazing places and exhibitions to visit in Lagos. A relaxing time in nature at the Lekki Conservation Center, or a boat cruise across the Lagos Lagoon; arcade games at Rufus and Bees; art visits to Yemisi Shyllon Museum and a trip down history at the National Museum and the Badagry Slave Museum. Then round it all up with some local cuisine at Ofada Boy or Korean barbecue at Hua Han.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My partner, Folajimi, definitely deserves a lot of recognition. He encouraged me to take my paintings more seriously and has always been a constant source of support. Equally important is Benita Nnachortam and the entire team of Kuta Art Foundation, who have been of immense help; providing mentorship and guidance.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambeke/

Image Credits
Yewande Ambeke