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Olowe of Ise (Efon-Alaiye, Ekiti region, ca. 1873-1938)
Veranda Post: Equestrian and Female Caryatid, before 1938
Wood, pigment
Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1996 (1996.558)
Olowe of Ise is the most celebrated Yoruba sculptor of the past century. Admired as an innovator in both Yoruba tradition and in the West, Olowe produced works that embrace classic forms and dynamic compositions that convey the illusion of movement. These qualities are further enhanced by deeply carved textured surfaces that were once brilliantly painted.
Olowe was born in Efon-Alaiye and in his youth moved southeast to Ise. Under the patronage of its king, the Arinjale, he carved a program of architectural sculptures that established his artistic reputation. He subsequently received comparable palace commissions from regional leaders at Ijesa, Akoko, Ilesa, and Ikere.
During Olowe's lifetime, his works were exhibited beyond the African continent. In 1924 a pair of doors carved for the palace at Ikere were exhibited in London and acquired for the British Museum. Since that time, art historians have recognized his importance and have documented his works in collections throughout the world.
Appreciation for Olowe's talent by his contemporaries is revealed in the wording of the praise poetry, or oriki, composed in his honor. It reflects upon his accomplishments and immortalizes the ease with which he carved.

Photograph Credits