Nigerian artist Adekunle Adeleke is the masterful hand behind the cover art for Mary-Alice Daniel’s forthcoming book A Coastline Is an Immeasurable Thing. As we noted in our “22 Best African Book Covers of 2022” list, the cover of Daniel’s book is “a stunning display of colors with bold imagery.” The cover features the portrait of a woman with lush, dark skin. Her figure is set against a classic Ankara fabric pattern.

Medical doctor turned artist, Adeleke is known for his work on black women portraiture. As he notes in his bio, this body of work “blends elements of  traditional African Ankara patterns with surrealist compositions to create stunning images.”

We caught up with him via email and asked him a few questions about his work.

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Brittle Paper

What inspired the cover design of A Coastline is an Immeasurable Thing by Mary-Alice Daniel?

Adekunle Adeleke

The painting was actually created in 2019. It was made at about the time I started consciously making an effort to depict beautiful African women as much as I could.

Brittle Paper

Where did the interest in depicting African women come from?

Adekunle Adeleke

At that time, I found a lot of depictions of Eurocentric beauty, and I always wanted to represent people who look like me and who are beautiful to me.

Brittle Paper

What influences did you draw on?

Adekunle Adeleke

I am heavily influenced by my childhood growing up in Southern Nigeria. I remember going to my mother’s market stall after primary school as a child and being surrounded by these strong black women clothed in beautiful patterned ankara clothes, each pattern more intricate than the last.

Brittle Paper

Were there any challenges along the way?

Adekunle Adeleke

 I do not think I have faced any significant challenges in my art journey. When I was starting out, I did not see a lot of acceptance for painting brazenly black figures in the specific style of realism I painted in. Most African art I found, derived their beauty from their symbolism or abstractness and history. There were not a lot of art resources about painting/rendering black skin and black hair either. Maybe the fact that I was not classically trained played a part in this, I am not sure.

Brittle Paper

What aspects of Daniel’s work did you channel into the art?

Adekunle Adeleke

Since I made the painting so long ago, I cannot claim that its creation was inspired by her writing. I, however, can say that after I learnt about her and what the book entailed, it is undoubtedly an excellent match.

Brittle Paper

What are you most proud of the finished product?

Adekunle Adeleke

I absolutely love how well I was able to push the subject’s complexion.

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Do you have an artist philosophy?

Adekunle Adeleke

I have been asked this question a lot, and I have had a lot of time to re-examine my thoughts. I always come back to the same general conclusion. I am and always have been fascinated by making paintings that are simply “beautiful” for their own sake. I like to imagine a caveman making a painting of some horses and showing their tribespeople how fascinating and beautiful they had found the form of the horse. Before any thoughts of the “freedom” or “poise” the horse symbolized, the horse had to first be beautiful in its own way in the artist’s eyes. I have no doubt that as I grow and think, I may stumble into another realization that may cause me to look at this matter differently, and I anticipate that gleefully.

 

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Shop Adeleke’s Print: inprnt.com

Preorder A Coastline Is an Immeasurable Thing: Harpercollins