In the artist's words
Odesola Idowu Isaiah, professionally known as Harmony, is a Nigerian visual and non-
visual artist based in Ibadan, Oyo State. Born in Ogbomosho South on February 2, he
developed an early interest in art, later completing his primary and secondary education in
Lagos. From 2013 to 2016, he apprenticed under Lagos-based artist Obadina Oluwaseyi
(King), an experience that strengthened his technique, discipline, and creative confidence.
He holds a Bachelor of Education in Fine and Applied Arts from Tai Solarin University of
Education, graduating in 2020.
Harmony’s work is deeply inspired by Fauvism, an art movement centered on bold,
expressive color. He uses exaggerated, intentional color palettes to convey emotion,
psychological depth, and inner realities beyond natural appearances. Though skilled in
realism, his strongest focus is portraiture, where he explores the “masks” people wear and
reveals layers of vulnerability, memory, and identity.
Working mainly with oil and acrylic, alongside textile design and performance art, Harmony
examines personal and collective memory, identity, and emotional truth. Since joining
UR4Africa in 2014 and later PublicArtNigeria, he has grown into a mentor supporting
emerging artists.
Through expressive color and human-centered storytelling, Harmony continues to shape a
unique voice within contemporary African art.
Artist Statement
Growing up, I witnessed how individuals use smile and outward composure to hide pain, fear, and personal
burdens. This observation became deeply personal as I navigated my own challenges with stammering, which
often limited my ability to express my thoughts and emotions freely. As a result, much of my emotions and
feelings remained unexpressed.
These experiences have shaped my artistic practice to be rooted in exploring the hidden emotional struggles,
and realities that people often conceal behind carefully constructed masks. All of these experience reflects my
artistic work through my fascination with portraiture and my embrace of Fauvism, a movement that uses bold,
expressive colors to communicate emotion beyond visible reality. Portraiture permits me to focus on the face as
a powerful vessel of human experience revealing the tensions, vulnerabilities, and truths that words often fail to
pass across.
The exaggerated colors, expressions, and symbolic elements in my work serve as visual languages for emotions
that are frequently suppressed or overlooked. My work seeks to create moments of recognition and connection
of which viewers can see reflections of their own experiences within the faces I paint and to feel acknowledged
in their struggles, hopes, and emotions. By bringing hidden feelings to limelight, I aim to encourage honesty, self-
awareness, and emotional freedom. Ultimately, my art is an invitation to remove the masks we wear, embrace
our authentic selves, and find the courage to be seen, heard, and understood.
