Modupeola Fadugba (b. 1985, Lomé, Togo) is a multimedia artist who sees the world through a unique lens, one shaped by the analytical precision of her background in engineering and economics and the boundless creativity of her artistic spirit. Her work is a dynamic exploration of the forces that shape our societies, drawing on concepts like game theory and cultural identity to examine themes of social justice, community, and collective memory. Fadugba doesn’t just create art; she builds bridges between disciplines, using painting, drawing, and socially engaged installations to spark dialogue and deepen our understanding of the human experience. Her practice reflects a deep belief in creativity as a catalyst for change.
Her achievements include the prestigious Grand Prize at the Norval Sovereign African Art Prize (2025), El Anatsui’s Outstanding Production Prize (2014), and an Emmy Award (2022) for her documentary Dreams from the Deep End. She is also a recipient of the Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship (2020), a member of the Tutu Fellowship Class of 2024, and a winner of the Grand Prize at the Dakar Biennale (2016), accolades that underscore her global resonance and commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.
Fadugba’s work has been exhibited internationally in both solo and group exhibitions. Her most recent solo exhibition, Also, What Are We Wearing? (2025), presented at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, West Palm Beach, delved into Yoruba pageantry, craft, and cultural identity through beaded and burned canvases that reframe spectacle as care. Her previous solo exhibition, Of Movement, Materials and Methods (2025) at Gallery 1957, London, offered a layered reflection on process, identity, and transformation. Other notable solo shows include The Armory Show, New York (2023); The Artist’s Algorithm: Why Nations Win at Alara Concept Store, Lagos (2021); Dreams from the Deep End at Gallery 1957, Accra (2018); Prayers, Players & Swimmers at Cité des Arts, Paris (2017); Synchronised Swimming & Drowning in London (2017); Heads Up, Keep Swimming at SMO Contemporary Art, Lagos (2017); and Like Play, Like Play in Dakar (2016).
Her work has also been featured in group exhibitions including The Conductor Art Fair at Powerhouse Arts, Brooklyn (2025); the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London (2025 & 2017); Constellations Part 1: Figures on Earth and Beyond at Gallery 1957, London (2024); Seen and Being Seen at Praise Shadows Art Gallery, Brookline (2021); Afriques Capitales in Lille (2017); and Design is the Personality of an Idea at the Ford Foundation and African Artists Foundation, Lagos (2015).
Fadugba has exhibited at major international art fairs, including Art Dubai, ART X Lagos, and 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. Her works are held in significant public and private collections such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, the Tiroche Collection, and the Sindika Dokolo Foundation.