Chief Z.O. Oloruntoba Biography
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Date of birth: 1st October, 1919
Place of birth: Ogidi
Nationality: Nigerian
State of origin: Kogi
Chief (Dr.) Otunba Zacheus Olowonubi Oloruntoba JP ("O-Láuren-tóba")
The Chief was born October 1, 1919. He is a spiritual leader, artist, herbalist, avid polo player to this day, flutist and film maker. His art is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, Queen Elizabeth II, David Rockefeller, and Muhammad Ali.
He is also a well-known practitioner of herbal medicine who consults and conducts workshops at such institutions as the Georgetown University Medical School. The Chief uses medicinal herbs to dye the fibers he uses in his tapestries and feels, therefore, that his art has curative powers for the viewer. Glass would impede the flow of healing power and should never be put over the tapestries. There is also a practical reason to avoid glass: Over time it causes the deterioration of fiber art.
The medium: Cotton-cord applique on canvas. Hand-spun and herbal-dyed, applied with animal hide glue and set by the weight of a heavy slab of stone. Silk in appearance. Can be rolled, like any tapestry or rug for transport. The drawn pattern is often visible on the back.
Exhibitions
British Council, Dugbe Ibadan, Nigeria, 1966
New York, 131 Prince Street, 1967
Museum of Modern Art, Lagos, Nigeria, 1968
Paris, 1968
British Council, Kano, Nigeria, 1969
Geneva, 1970
Commonwealth Institute, London, 1972
New York, One Man Shows, 1972-1975
Brussels, 1976
German Cultural Organization, Lagos, 1979
Italian Embassy, Lagos, 1982
Eko Hotel, Lagos, 1983-1996
Antwerp and Chicago, 1989
The October Gallery, London, 1989
Brazilian Embassy, Lagos, 1996
The October Gallery, London, Diasporas I & II, 1997
Frankfurt, 1997
Alliance, France, Paintings and Weavings, 1998
Artists Alliance Gallery, Accra, Ghana, 2001
The Wichita Center for the Arts, Kansas, 1999, 2000
The Dorothy Rogers Collection, Wichita, Kansas, 2003
The Dorothy Rogers Collection Online, 2003
The Bruce Museum, Greenwich, Connecticut, The Spirited Canvas: Toiles and Tapestries of Chief Z.O. Oloruntoba, 2002, Dorothy Danemiller Rogers, Curator
The October Gallery, London, New Works by Jimoh Buraimoh and Z.O. Oloruntoba, 2002
Stars in the Arts, with former Ambassador Andrew Young, Atlanta, Georgia, 2002
21st La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, California, Special Guest Artist, 2003,Curator: Dorothy Danemiller Rogers
Dorothy Rogers Fine Art, Santa Fe, The Spirited Canvas II: Toiles and Tapestries of Chief Z.O. Oloruntoba, 2003
22nd La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, California, March, 2004, Curator: Dorothy Danemiller Rogers
Dorothy Rogers Fine Art, Santa Fe, "The Spirited Canvas: Tapestries, July/August, 2004, Curator: Dorothy Danemiller Rogers
The Catskill Art Society, Sullivan County Museum, Hurleyville, New York, July, 2004, Curator: Dorothy Danemiller Rogers
The Museum of International Folk Art Market, Santa Fe, July 17 & 18, 2004, Curator: Dorothy Danemiller Rogers
The Museum of International Folk Art Market, Santa Fe, July 17 & 18, 2004, Curator: Dorothy Danemiller Rogers
Awards and Distinctions
Kenedica, U.S.A., 1968
Seaspuds cover and UNICEF award for "Traditional Flute Player," 1972
Certificate of Appraisal - The International Art Registry, Ltd., New York
Artwork on over 30 UNICEF cards
Corporate Merit Award of Excellence: Artist of the Year from the National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Product Workers (NUPPPPROW), Ibadan, Nigeria, 1998
Honored Guest Artist, La Quinta Arts Festival, California, March 20-23, 2003
Collections
Museum of Modern Art, New York
Queen Elizabeth II
David Rockefeller
Muhammad Ali
Jazz Musician, Ornett Coleman
Reverend Jesse Jackson
Susan Wengar (Adunni) Olosa, Nigeria
Studio Museum, New York
Mobil Oil Company, Lagos, Nigeria
His Royal Highness Oba Sonanwo, Ijebu-Segamu, Nigeria
Chevron Oil Company, Lagos
His Royal Highness Oba Adebimpe, The Olubadan of Ibadan Land, Nigeria
Colen Doman, U.S.A.
Texaco Inc., London
His Royal Highness Oba Iylola Motanmi Ataoja of Osogbo, Nigeria
Chief (Dr) ING M. A. Moser
Chief (Mrs) Maria Moser
Chief Fenapa, A Traditional Dance Cultural Centre, Ibadan
His Royal Highness Oba Sikiru Adetona Awujale of Ijebuland, Nigeria
Director of U.A.C., Chief Mesayete, Lagos
Chief Alphonso, Director Portland Cement, Lagos
His Royal Highness Oba Adeyemi Are-Jedege Ologidi of Ogidi land
Yeyelosun, Osogbo, Nigeria
Chief Olujumu of Ijumu, Kogi, Nigeria
Baale of Oke-Itunu Mokola, Nigeria
H.R.H. Oba Micheal Folorunsho Olobayo Obaro of Kabba
Chief Jens Victor Balogun of Ogidiland
Dr. John Yakubu, Commissioner of Justice, Oyo State, Nigeria
The Solicitor-General, Ministry of Justice, Secretariat, Ibadan
Elder O. A. Folarin, Ibadan
Erulu Elizabeth Oloruntoba Lectures
British Cultural Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria
American Cultural Centre in Lagos, Nigeria
Teacher's College for Women, Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria
Institute of Traditional African Studies, Ibadan, Nigeria
British Cultural Centre, Ibadan
British Cultural Centre, Kano, Nigeria
Georgetown University, U.S.A.
Harvard University, U.S.A.
Weekend Third Eye Publication
Publications (selected)
King Marakapa's Dream with Michael Paplow at University of California, Los Angeles, 1970
Ghosts Led Him to Art, Gainesville Sun Daily, U.S.A., 1973
Air Afrique Magazine, 1974
Oloruntoba Due For America, Daily Sketch, March 23 1974
Life Magazine, Cultural Congress, Nov. 25, 1991
Morrouf the Cobbler, drama, Caravan of Dream's Forest, Texas, 1993
The Healer with a Brush, Sunday Tribune, Dec. 30, 1995
Weekend Third Eye, Dec. 2, 1995
Vogue Magazine, British Edition, Sept. 1995
The Wichita Eagle, Kansas, March 8, 2000
The New York Times, Paintings by Oloruntoba, March 24, 2002
The New York Times: Exploring Spirit, Human and Animal by William Zimmer, April 7, 2002
Ridgefield, New Canaan, Darien, Wilton, Redding, Weston, Lewisboro, Connecticut Newspapers, Spirited Canvas, March 28, 2002
Honorary Titles
Otunba of Ogidiland by His Royal Highness Oba Adeyemi Aare, Jedege 1, 1996
Justice of Peace by Oyo State Administrator Col. Ahmed Usman, 1998 National Service
Representative at a European Exhibition in Belgium as one of Nigeria's Outstanding Artists, 1983. Sponsored by Executive President Alhaji Sheu Shagari.
Chosen as outstanding artist and Nigerian to welcome United States President George W. Bush during his visit to Nigeria, July 2003
Clubs and Associations
President, St. John Ambulance Brigade in Oyo State
Patron, Executive Ladies Club Mokola, Ibadan, Nigeria
Polo Club, Ibadan
Patron to arts and drama societies, Nigeria, 1966-85
Chairman, Ibadan Unit O.D.U., Ogidi Kogi State, Nigeria
Chairman of Rotary Club, Lagos, Nigeria
Interests
Painting, herbal medicine, traveling, polo, singing, flute, dancing, film making, carpentry.