From sketching faces as a little girl in Abuja to having her artwork permanently displayed in one of London’s most historic civic buildings, British-Nigerian multidisciplinary artist, Adaeze Adinnu, has proven that perseverance, purpose, and passion can turn humble beginnings into history.
Born in Lagos and raised in Abuja, Adaeze began painting at a young age, often using improvised materials to express the images that filled her imagination. “I started painting as a young girl in Abuja,” she recalled. “Although I lived in Abuja, I was born in Lagos, and both cities shaped my creative identity in different ways.”
What began as a childhood fascination with colour and form has grown into an internationally recognised art career that now bridges continents and cultures.
Her journey recently reached a new milestone when she visited Mayor Jason Jackson at the Islington Town Hall, London, where she presented a bespoke portrait of the Mayor. The portrait, celebrated for its emotional depth and symbolic richness, was immediately inducted into the Borough’s official portrait collection, making Adaeze the first UK-based Nigerian female artist to have her work permanently displayed at the historic Town Hall.
In a deeply reflective moment, Adaeze described the recognition as a testament to the power of persistence.
“I started painting in Abuja with nothing but a dream and a desire to tell stories through art,” she said. “Standing here today, seeing my work in Islington’s gallery, reminds me that persistence always pays off.”
During her visit, Adaeze also proposed that Islington designate October 9th as a Black History Celebration Day, to be marked annually through exhibitions, performances, and storytelling that highlight diversity and inclusion.
“Art has the power to unite communities and remind us that our shared stories make us stronger,” she said. “This celebration isn’t just for Black people — it’s for everyone who contributes to the British story.”
Mayor Jackson praised Adaeze’s artistry and her vision for unity, describing her proposal as “tangible and transformative.”
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“Islington has always been proud of its diversity and creative spirit,” he said. “What Adaeze is proposing adds a powerful new dimension to how we celebrate that.”
The Mayor expressed his commitment to advancing the proposal through the Borough’s cultural leadership and acknowledged the significance of her artistic contribution to the town’s heritage.
“It’s not every day you receive a portrait of such calibre,” he said. “This meeting reflects the power of art to shape civic memory and community connection.”
A graduate of Business Management from the University of Northampton, Adaeze is the Founder and CEO of Fabloz Artistry and a proud member of the British Art Network (BAN). Her art, which merges oil, acrylic, mixed media, and mirrored surfaces, fuses realism and figurative expression to explore identity, resilience, femininity, and social transformation.
Her work has earned international acclaim, notably being selected for the Arts To Hearts Project’s “100 Emerging Artists: Women’s Edition 2025.” She has exhibited in major galleries including The Holy Art Gallery (London), Mitochondria Gallery (Houston), Redwood Art Group (Dallas), and Rele Gallery (Lagos), and her pieces are housed in private and public collections such as the Chinese Cultural Centre (Abuja), Boughton Care Home (UK), and offices at Nigeria’s National Assembly.
Adaeze’s career highlights include painting large-scale murals for Pepsi Cola Nigeria, participating in an exhibition at the Commonwealth Secretariat for the Global Art in Medicine Fellowship in London, and receiving recognition from UNESCO for her contributions to the arts.
Her exhibition record spans the UK, US, and Nigeria, with standout showcases such as Spectrum London (Holy Art Gallery, 2023), When the Sun Stands Still (Mitochondria Gallery, Houston, 2023), Captured Hearts (TAAG Gallery, Los Angeles, 2023), and Black History Month Exhibition (Art.Africa, London, 2022).
Through Fabloz Artistry, she continues to mentor emerging artists, particularly women, using art as a platform for cultural empowerment, healing, and social change.
From her modest beginnings in Abuja to her rise on the global art stage, Adaeze Adinnu’s story is a powerful reminder that art, when guided by vision, faith, and perseverance, can transcend borders and turn dreams into legacy.
