A-ARTs: How Omole's 'Stories Woven in Symbols' celebrated adinkra, cowries

'Friendship' (acrylic on canvas, 3024x3111, dated 2026) by Faith Omole

By Ola Alowoloke

IN her art of representing visual language that becomes a vessel for memory, culture, and identity, artist Faith Omole constructs figurative compositions layered with symbolic elements.

Omole lures art lovers to view her visual languages in a solo exhibition titled Stories Woven in Symbols, which showed on artsy.net from March 23-April 23, 2026. Working basically in acrylic on canvas, Omole's figurative compositions of symbols, most notably Adinkra motifs and cowries, depict philosophical and cultural significance within African tradition.

“Through symbols and figures, Omole transforms the canvas into a living archive of African memory and meaning,” Tribes Art Africa Gallery stated. "Omole's symbols are not merely decorative forms; they function as storytellers."

In acrylic on canvas dexterity, Omole exudes depth of symbols in works such as Friendship, Where Anxieties Die Series, Support Series, Who Am I Now?, Declamation, and Portrait of Peace or Shame series, all dated between 2023 and 2026, among others. In these pieces and others, Omole applies cowries in evoking immaterial wealth—the richness of love, family, and spiritual connection. The artist also explores Adinkra symbols in communicating values of resilience, unity, wisdom, and perseverance. Through these motifs, her paintings become narratives that bridge personal experience with collective heritage.

In one the works titled Friendship, dated 2023, Omole transforms the portrait into a field of symbols, where identity is constructed through layers of marks, patterns, and coded imagery. The figure emerges from a dense constellation of visual motifs—each line and symbol acting as a fragment of story, memory, and shared experience.

Rendered in luminous tones of deep blue and vibrant green, the composition suggests both individuality and connection. The intricate patterns evoke traditional African symbolic languages, recalling the philosophical depth of Adinkra motifs while remaining distinctly contemporary in form. Within this visual tapestry, the human face becomes more than a likeness; it becomes a vessel of relationships, histories, and emotional bonds.

In Friendship, Omole reflects on the invisible networks that shape human life—trust, loyalty, and mutual recognition. The work suggests that friendship is not merely an encounter between individuals, but a layered exchange of identity, culture, and memory. Through her symbolic language, Omole reminds viewers that our connections are built from countless shared moments, each leaving its mark upon who we become.

Rooted in both introspection and activism, Omole’s practice reflects a desire to preserve and reinterpret African cultural philosophies for contemporary audiences. Her figures appear contemplative yet powerful, embodying the quiet strength of identity shaped by history and lived experience.

Omole's Stories Woven in Symbols exhibition explains the artist's evolving visual language, where symbolism and portraiture merge to create works that are both intimate and universal. Each painting becomes a woven tapestry of meaning—inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the enduring stories embedded within African culture.

As a self-taught Nigerian artist, Omole’s artistic practice is shaped by her background in activism and her commitment to telling authentic African stories.

Her work is also informed by research and residencies that explore Nigerian cultural history. During her residency at Kuta Art Foundation, Omole examined themes surrounding the female child in sports while revisiting her own childhood memories as an athlete.

Omole has also participated in a residency project exploring 70 Years of Music in Nigeria, where she investigated the cultural legacy of iconic musicians across genres such as Fuji, Afrojuju, and Waka. These experiences deepened her commitment to preserving cultural memory through art. Influenced by mentors such as Omidiran Gbolade and exposure to the broader Nigerian art community through figures like Chief Nike Okundaye, Omole continues to expand her visual language, blending symbolism, music history, personal narrative, and spiritual inquiry. Her evolving body of work reflects a sustained commitment to safeguarding African cultural wisdom while reimagining it for contemporary audiences.

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