British Vogue: Forces for Change

**Frame Of Mind: Meet Oyinkansola Dada, The London Gallerist Spotlighting Art From Across The African Diaspora

Oyinkansola Dada is recalling the first art show she ever put on: it was 2018 and she had rented a gallery space in her home city of Lagos from a friend. “We kept people outside for almost two hours on opening day, as we were still painting upstairs,” the 27-year-old says today, perched on a Ligne Roset sofa in the living room of her apartment in Pimlico, central London, a large abstract painting by Nigerian artist Fidelis Joseph behind her. “But I’m glad I made the leap – it laid the foundations for what was to come next.”

The youngest of 10 siblings, Dada describes a “sheltered” childhood where art was not a main focus. That all changed when she swapped Nigeria for London, aged 17, to study law and politics at King’s College. There, she started a blog, Polarctics, to further explore her interest in African literature, art and culture. An internship at the Art X Lagos fair in 2017 further stoked her ambition and, just four years later, she launched her namesake Dada Gallery.

Since then, it has established itself as one of very few Black-owned galleries in London highlighting the work of artists across the African diaspora. Its purpose? To provide a platform where artists “can truly express themselves and cover issues, such as sexuality, gender identity, queerness, without any limits”. Among its enviable roster of rising stars, showcased on the gallery’s digital platform and physical exhibitions at Cromwell Place – an art hub in South Kensington – are Nigerian painters Samson Bakare and Bunmi Agusto. Meanwhile, Dada magazine, published as a print iteration of the gallery, showcases work from a new generation of Black creatives.

Incredibly, Dada has accomplished all this while still managing a full-time career as a lawyer. “It’s backbreaking,” she admits, “but I don’t ever want to be stopped being able to pursue my passions. I realise that I’m one of the few Black women in the art world, and that’s why I just can’t stop. I want to inspire the next generation.”