These paintings were created in acrylic and digital media from my studio in Northern California.

Contact email: chubaoyolu@gmail.com
instagram handle: @chubaoyolu
Facebook Page: Chubanator

Work in Series: Iconic AF

“Iconic AF” Season 1, Episode #5: Ray of Georgia’s Son (Original Available)

Acrylic Painting. Size: 24″ X 30″. Completed – 01/2019
Prints available for purchase

I have always admired and drawn inspiration from Ray Charles not just because he gave us some of the most iconic and catchy tunes ever, but because he did all that without his eyesight. Ray started going blind as a young boy and staggeringly still found a way to learn the piano and flawlessly play it. It couldn’t have been easy to find the audacity as a young black blind man to believe he could entertain the masses on the world stage, but he did it anyway. Actually, when I think more deeply about that last sentence, it becomes apparent that Ray wasn’t really thinking about entertaining millions of people… rather, he just followed his bliss which is a serious life lesson. Everytime I am in a funk as an artist or as a man period, thinking about Ray’s journey is always a shot in the arm to keep going after it… no matter how impossible “it” seems. This is the fifth piece of work in season 1 of the “Iconic AF” series.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

“Iconic AF” Season 1, Episode #4: Tina (Original Available)

Acrylic Painting. Size: 24″ X 30″. Completed – 09/2018
Prints available for purchase

This one is special because it was requested by my facebook fans. Yep… we conducted a poll of folks on the IconicAF shortlist with a google spreadsheet believe it or not and Tina Turner won out. She was a staple of my childhood. I can still hear tracks like “what’s love gotta do with it” and “the best” blaring through my sister’s car stereo. Tina is an incredibly strong woman to have put up with Ike Turner for all those years, and to come out of all that drama and still be going strong. This is the fourth piece of work in the “Iconic AF” series.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

“Iconic AF” Season 1, Episode #3: Imagineer (Original Sold!)

Acrylic Painting. Size: 24″ X 30″. Completed – 06/2018
Prints available for purchase

Johnny Lennon and the Beatles are iconic. Full stop. I dare you to argue with me on that! The round rimmed spectacles are about as iconic as it gets in the music world. When I first sat down to start formulating the ideas for this series it became clear to me almost instantly that my iconic musician series would simply be incomplete without a Beatle. I chose Johnny because of his otherworldly song writing skills which I have always admired and taken inspiration from. Don’t ask me why, but blue rimmed spectacles just seemed right at the time. One of my dear friends called them “the business” when she first saw the piece… much to my amusement. This is the third piece of work in the “Iconic AF” series.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

“Iconic AF” Season 1, Episode #2: Soul Rebel (Original Sold!)

Acrylic Painting. Size: 24″ X 30″. Completed – 02/2018
Prints available for purchase

I grew up in Nigeria with Iconic tunes from this great man blaring through pretty much every transistor radio in every local kiosk on every corner. My brain still takes me back to particular places and times when I hear some of his songs. Bob Marley was and remains a legend to us Nigerians and especially to me because of his courage and his musicianship. I mean this man literally got shot at during a concert and went back to playing the very next one as if nothing happened. When asked why he’d risk his life, his response was simple. I’m paraphrasing here, but it went something like: “the people who are trying to make the world worse aren’t taking days off, so those of us trying to make the world better can’t either”. I mean damn dude… #respect. This is the second piece of work in the “Iconic AF” series.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

“Iconic AF” Season 1, Episode #1: Voodoo Child (Original Sold!)

Acrylic Painting. Size: 24″ X 30″. Completed – 08/2016
Prints available for purchase

Full disclosure here… I’m about as big a fan of Jimi Hendrix as you’ll find anywhere so my objectivity on this matter is probably slightly warped. The style of his guitar playing is readily recognizable in my own guitar playing because I spent a ton of time copying and learning from the great man. I unfortunately never got the chance to see him in concert because he died way before I was born. If you haven’t listened to some of his iconic tunes (such as “Little Wing”, “Bold As Love”, “Wind Cries Mary”) I highly recommend that you do. This is the first piece of work in the “Iconic AF” series.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

Work in Series: Sisi Gorimampa

Sisi Gorimampa Vol III – “Ascension” (Original Available)

Size: 24″ X 30″. Completed – 12/2018
Installment #3, “Sisi” series
Prints available for purchase

My three sisters – Ngozichukwuka, Obianuju, and Obianamma – are incorporated into this work of art as is the case with each piece in the Sisi Gorimampa series. This piece is the third installment in the Sisi Series that is currently scheduled to extend to 10 total pieces each on 24″X30″ canvas. In case you were wondering, their names from left to right are: Nkechi (the one that God gave), Ebele (Mercy), Obianuju (it came in fullness), Ngozichukwuka (God’s blessing), and Obianamma (came at a fortunate time).  This edition of the series is entitle “Ascension”. This remains one of my favorite and most delightful series to work on because of all the curves, and super bright ultra rich colors.

Sisi Gorimampa Vol II – “Asili” (Original Available)

Size: 24″ X 30″. Completed – 11/2018
Installment #2, “Sisi” series
Prints available for purchase

My three sisters – Ngozichukwuka, Obianuju, and Obianamma – are incorporated into this work of art. This piece is the second installment in the Sisi Series that is currently scheduled to extend to 10 total pieces each on 24″X30″ canvas. In case you were wondering, their names from left to right are: Nkechi (the one that God gave), Ebele (Mercy), Obianuju (it came in fullness), Ngozichukwuka (God’s blessing), and Obianamma (came at a fortunate time). This remains one of my favorite and most delightful series to work on because of all the curves, and super bright ultra rich colors.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

Sisi Gorimampa Vol I – “Marketplace” (Original Sold!)

Size: 24″ X 30″. Completed – 12/2016
Installment #1, “Sisi” series
Prints available for purchase

“Sisi Gorimampa” translates loosely from Yoruba to English as “bald sexy woman”. This work of art was purchased by my sister Dr Uju Oyolu who lives in Southport, United Kingdom. Growing up in Nigeria, and going to so many weddings and festivals I was exposed to many female traditional dance groups. The ease with which they moved their full and curvaceous bodies obviously left an impact on me LOL! These women and the other beautiful women that I grew up in and around with inspired this painting which is basically a celebration of the feminine form. I’m eagerly looking forward to adding more works to the “Sisi” series.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

Commissioned Artwork

Nwa Di Ana

Commissioned Acrylic Painting. Size: 24″ X 30″. Completed – 08/2017

This piece is very dear to my heart. It is an acrylic painting of my immediate older sister’s children. Took a lot longer to create than usual because I kept fussing over the details wanting to make it as perfect as I could manage. I left Nigeria before these two were born and didn’t really have a chance to get to know them. So this experience was doubly special because it felt like I got to really really know my sister’s children for the first time while studying their facial features and mannerisms. It was a joy to create this and know that it will be hanging in their house for a very long time.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

Tulips

Commissioned Digital Painting. Size: 8.5″ X 11″. Completed – 07/2009
Copies available for purchase

This was commissioned by a really good friend of mine – Olgalydia – who served as the executive administrator at the Stanford Bioengineering department while I was a student there. She is hands down one of the sweetest people I know, and we still keep in touch thanks in part to the miracle also known as Facebook. It was still hanging in her office the last time I visited her which is such an interesting juxtaposition to my life as a scientist. What you create in an industrial scientific setting doesn’t last for very long at all by comparison.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

Butterfly

Commissioned Digital Painting. Size: 8.5″ X 11″. Completed – 09/2007
Copies available for purchase

Made this for my niece who lives in Houston when she was still a baby. She kept saying she wanted a butterfly so I made one for her at the request of her dad.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

More to the genome than meets the eye

Commissioned Acrylic Mural. Size: 30ft X 7ft. Completed – 12/2013

I painted this mural over a period of ~6 months using acrylic media and a ton of paintbrushes. This was my first ever mural, and yes, that means I had no prior experience painting on a giant wall before this experience. This is the largest piece I have ever created, spanning about 210 sq ft. The mural was commissioned by my friend and ex Counsyl CEO, Ramji Srinivasan. A fun fact is that I was employed and serving as Founding Scientist at the company when I began and completed work on this mural. By far one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I’ll be forever grateful for having had this opportunity.

Without Wax
Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.