Duke Asidere is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated contemporary artists with a keen following internationally and in his native Nigeria. He was born in 1961 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with first class honours in Fine Arts (painting) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1988 as well as a Masters of Fine Arts in painting in 1996 from the same university. He taught painting, drawing and art history at the Federal Auchi Polytechnic for five years before starting full-time studio work in Lagos. He was mentored by Prof. Bruce Onabrakpeya and taught by Gani Odutokun, Jerry Buhari, Richard Baye, Tony Okpe, Cornel Agim, Ajayi Murphy, who had a profound impact on his life and artistic expression. His influences also come from the early 20th century fauvist inspired modern artists, as well as the expressionists.
His peers who were born around Nigeria’s independence in the 1960’s have also had a positive Impact on him, such as the painter, Ben Osaghae. Asidere expresses himself boldly through a wide variety of genre including pencil work, engravings, oil and acrylic, pastels and even transparencies. He was raised in the household of women, which is reflected in his recurring theme of the female form in his portraits and faces. His architectural series are a fresh perspective of African land – and cityscapes, and his number and spray series have underlining political statements. His has participated in and facilitated numerous international and local workshops on painting, photography and drawing, including Colour Masters (Auchi Polytechnic March 2011) and in a number of the annual Harmattan Workshop Series. He is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists and the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria, (GFA).
