Artist Spotlight: A New Chapter for Daniel Ashola'sa
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If you’ve spent time browsing artdey’s collection, you’ve probably come across the work of Daniel Ashola’sa.
Known for his textured surfaces, muted palettes, and quiet explorations of the human experience, Daniel has built a body of work that invites viewers to slow down and reflect. His paintings exist somewhere between realism and abstraction, placing familiar figures within distorted environments that mirror the complexities of everyday life.
Lately, his presence on the platform has been quieter than usual. The reason is a happy one.
Daniel is getting married!
As he prepares for this new season, he finds himself less focused on the next exhibition and more focused on building a home, a family, and a life beyond the studio walls. Art remains central to who he is, but for the first time in a long while, it must learn to share space with something else.
We recently caught up with him to talk about his journey, his influences, and what comes next.
On his earliest memories of art:
“As a child, I loved comics. My earliest drawings were characters from Supa Strikas. I also grew up in a Deeper Life household, and one of my treasures was a Bible with maps at the back. During sermons, I would spend my time drawing in it. I called it my illustration Bible.”
On choosing art over business:
“When I finished secondary school as a commerce student, my plan was to study Business Administration or Banking. That changed because of encouragement from my brother and my own growing awareness of my ability. I enrolled in a one-year art training program and met Dr. Kunle Adeyemi. His studio became my second home. A few of us were affectionately known as the Studio Rats. Seeing artists around me achieve incredible things, including one who received a scholarship to study in Paris, gave me confidence I had chosen the right path.”
On texture and distortion:
“One thing I always emphasize is texture. I love working with textured surfaces and creating a sense of distortion within my paintings. You’ll often find realistic figures set against distorted backgrounds. For me, that’s a metaphor for life itself. We live in social and economic realities that feel increasingly unstable, yet we still have to show up every day, be presentable, and keep moving forward.”
On muted colours:
“I work primarily with earthy, muted colours because I believe they reflect the reality of the world we live in today. Society is not smiling right now, and I want my work to acknowledge that while still encouraging reflection.”
On his most personal painting:
“There is a painting titled Ngukam the Jos Boy that remains very important to me. I don’t usually paint male figures, but this story stayed with me. I met the young man during my service year in the East. He was originally from Jos and spoke openly about the stereotypes and tribalism he experienced. People constantly referred to him as ‘Aboki’ even though they could easily learn he wasn’t Hausa. That conversation stayed with me long after it ended. The painting became my response.
On what he hopes viewers take away:
“I love it when viewers arrive at their own interpretation. I once created a series called Book of Remembrance, and the idea was simple: people should be able to engage with the work on a personal level. I want the painting to become part of them. A reflection of themselves.”
On balancing art and life:
“Right now, I’m entering a new chapter because I’m getting married soon. Art can be a jealous lover, so one of the things I’m thinking about most is how to balance my practice with raising a family and becoming the kind of husband and father I want to be. Finding that balance is the next part of my journey.
One of the things we enjoy most at artdey is speaking with artists during quieter transitions. Not just when a new collection launches, but during the moments that shape the people behind the work.
Daniel reminds us that art does not exist in isolation. It grows alongside careers, friendships, families, and personal experiences. The paintings we admire are often reflections of lives being lived in real time.
We wish him all the best in this new chapter.
-Alex