In early August, we welcomed our new Artist-in-Residence to Kuta Arts Foundation for an immersive four-week residency. Our August artist in residence is Oluwatobi Aremu from Lagos and Dikachu Uguwu from Abuja; these two artists will explore the cultural landscape of Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Oluwatobi Aremu is a Nigerian visual artist. He majored in Graphic Design at the School of Art and Industrial Design, Yaba College of Technology. Oluwatobi is working on personal modular visual systems rooted in African symbolism and modern design logic. His work explores abstraction, rhythm, and atmosphere, often featuring solitary figures in surreal Afro-centric spaces. He is on a journey to deepen his practice via structured visual philosophy by merging research, experimentation, and storytelling. This is in order to create a visual language that’s intelligent, emotionally resonant, and culturally grounded.

How do you hope to maximize the residency opportunity?

I want to fully immerse myself in the local environment, both the land and the people. I’m especially interested in connecting with artisans and the rhythms of Abeokuta to inspire new modulations and symbols in my ongoing exploration of my system. I plan to develop a series of visual studies during the residency, focusing on color, abstraction, and local material influences. This isn’t just about producing work, it’s about evolving my system in dialogue with the cultural textures around me. I also want to document and reflect, so that what I gain from KUTA can feed into a longer-term body of work.

What drew you to apply to the residency program?

Kuta Arts Foundation felt aligned with the phase I’m in, one where structure meets openness. The location, the emphasis on process, and the opportunity to collaborate with other Nigerian creatives made it stand out. I’m building something bigger than individual works: a visual language that draws from African roots and pushes toward new futures. KUTA felt like a space where I could experiment, connect, and take that system deeper, especially by being close to real craft and community rather than working in isolation.

Dikachu Uguwu is a Nigerian artist hailing from a  Dape Village, a small community in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. An alumnus of Theatre and Film at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he is an autodidact artist with an affinity for drawing, painting, and a passion for large-scale outdoor works. Drawn to bold expression and expansive surfaces, Dikachi prefers painting on the walls of buildings and rocks. His work explores portraits of public figures, graffiti, landscapes, illusions, and cultural symbols. Most of his murals reflect the everyday stories, icons, and reality familiar to his community. He’s also a set designer, with screen credit on film production like Yahoo +, Uno (the ‘F’ in Family), Mumu Mna, and Paths Unseen. Nominated best set designer at the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, Nsukka, in 2012 and 2013.

What I hope to achieve  at the residency

I hope to maximize the residency opportunity by using it as a conducive environment to focus, create, and kick-start my art career in a meaningful way. The chance to interact and share ideas with fellow artists will not only broaden my perspective but also foster valuable collaborations and community. I also look forward to making full use of the available art facilities to experiment, refine my techniques, and grow in my craft. This residency presents a unique space for both personal and artistic development, and I intend to engage with it wholeheartedly.

What drew me to the residency

What drew me to apply to the Kuta Artist in Residence Program was the unique combination of creative space, community, and support it offers to emerging artists. I was particularly drawn to the residency’s emphasis on artistic growth, cultural exchange, and collaboration. The opportunity to work alongside other dedicated artists, in a space intentionally designed to nurture creativity, deeply resonated with me.

Additionally, I’m at a pivotal stage in my career where I need both structure and inspiration to develop a strong body of work. The resources, facilities, and environment provided by the Kuta residency make it an ideal place for me to explore new ideas, refine my practice, and build meaningful connections within the art world. It felt like a natural step toward fulfilling my artistic vision and building a sustainable creative path