About
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Lanre Olagoke (n. 1962) was born in London and grew up in Nigeria. He is a self-taught painter whose work has been exhibited worldwide in New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Barcelona, France, Africa, and the UK. His art, ever-changing and uniquely vibrant, tells the story of his journey from homelessness to hope.
Lanre discovered his passion for painting at the age of five but found himself without the support of those around him. Being raised in an environment that lacked an appreciation for art set Lanre on a downward spiral; upon returning to London from Nigeria at the age of 19, drugs and gambling took him from being a promising student to homeless on the streets.
But the young painter found solace in his work. An early inspiration of his was Ben Enwonwu, the first African to receive the honour of sculpting Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II. "I first met Professor Ben Enwonwu in the mid-80s and became his apprentice. I was honoured to be in the presence of a legend. He was my mentor and my inspiration." With the support and guidance of Enwonwu, Lanre learned to embrace and channel his singular artistic style.
Lanre founded the Art-Alive Arts Trust, a registered UK-based charity, in 1997. Over the years, AAAT has helped over 5,000 young people find opportunities to realise their potential through the use of art. In 2011, Lanre pioneered the first-ever Soho Arts Fair, a now yearly event where over 200 youths perform on Carnaby Street. Speaking on his experience working with young people, Lanre shares that "their overwhelming desire is the chance to be heard” and that “expressing their beliefs and frustrations through art gives them a sense of belonging and self-worth."
Lanre is based in London and works out of his studio in Soho. He resides in South London with his wife Simone and two daughters, Adeola and Remi-Anne.