Oladele Ogbeyemi
Breathing New Life into Scrap — The Art of Nigerian Sculptor Oladele Ogbeyemi
Oladele Ogbeyemi
Oladele Ogbeyemi is a Nigerian sculptor who transforms discarded scrap metal into powerful, life-filled sculptures of animals and people.
Materials
Works primarily with scrap metal, transforming discarded materials into powerful sculptures and giving unused metals a renewed purpose.
Philosophy
Guided by the belief of “breathing new life into the discarded.” Each work stands as a symbol of renewal and hope.
Message
Carries a message of sustainability and environmental awareness, inviting reflection through the medium of art.
Career & Awards
・2017, 2018, 202 – Featured at Sogal Art Auction
・2011 – Awarded the Sculpture Prize, Ben Enwonwu Foundation
・2010 – Winner, Children’s Art Talent Hunt Exhibition
・2009 – First Prize, Sculpture, National Gallery of Art, Lagos
Works held in collections such as the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja
“To the people of Japan,
Your deep respect for nature and harmony continues to inspire the world. In every season, your culture reminds us that caring for the environment is not just an act of preservation, but a reflection of who we are. May we all keep nurturing this balance — protecting the beauty that sustains both our planet and our shared humanity.”
— Oladele Ogbeyemi
About This Exhibition
Inspired by Expo 2025 Osaka, Oladele’s works have found a home in Fukuroi City. They are now permanently displayed at Mizoguchi Family Clinic and Mellow Plaza.
Currently exhibiting at Mellow Plaza
Title: Unequal Chase
This sculpture tells a story that goes beyond wildlife. The leopard here is not just a predator, and the squirrel is not just a prey; they represent the unequal chase we often see in the global economy.
The leopard stands for powerful nations, economies so large that no single small country could ever satisfy their appetite.
The squirrel, quick and light, represents smaller nations struggling to survive in their little way to grow. Even though the squirrel is far too small to truly feed the leopard, the chase never stops.
For me, this work is a reflection of power and exploitation. It asks why nations with abundant resources and wealth continue to pursue those with so little.
Why dominate those who can barely meet their own needs?
This relentless pursuit mirrors the pressures we see when stronger economies draw resources, talent, or influence from weaker ones, often without regard for balance or fairness. The leopard and the squirrel’s ballet is not just a frozen chase; it is an invitation to pause and question ourselves: how do we, as individuals and as nations, use the power we have?
Do we protect, or do we pursue?
That’s a question we need to ask ourselves.
Thank you for taking this moment with me, and I hope this piece sparks conversations about justice, responsibility, and the kind of world we want to create.
Currently exhibiting at Mizoguchi Family Clinic
Title: The Spirit of Resilience
In the quiet of recovery, strength often speaks in silence.
The Spirit of Resilience stands as a symbol of that silent power, the kind that does not roar, but endures.
Forged from steel and shaped by intention, this bull represents the unyielding will of the human spirit, to rise, to heal, and to keep moving forward, even when the body falters. Each mechanical detail mirrors the precision of life itself: the rhythm of a heartbeat, the flow of breath, the delicate balance between fragility and force.
This sculpture echoes that strength is not defined by aggression, but by persistence; where healing is not a pause, but a charge forward with renewed purpose. Like the bull, we are built to withstand, to adapt, and to rise again (our resilience not born from perfection, but from persistence.)
The Spirit of Resilience invites everyone that every scar is proof of a battle overcome. Every breath is a quiet victory.
A bridge who initiated the exhibition and brought the artworks to Japan.
Dr. Akihiro Mizoguchi — the physician who initiated the exhibition and brought Oladele’s work to Japan.