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Windows on Amsterdam

On Display:

Urban Symphonies 

Doba Afolabi

September 27 – December 20, 2024

Featured Artist:

Doba Afolabi, as he preferred to be called due to his usually lengthy African names, was known by his full name Adedeji Adedoba Afolabi while he studied at Ahmadu Bello University Nigeria, catching with the spirit of the Zaria art Avant Garde tagged the ‘Zaria Rebels’, a style of the famous Zaria art school where he graduated with Bachelors of Art.

Doba worked as graphic artist with the British overseas development of the UN and taught at Yaba College of technology in Lagos Nigeria prior to his coming to New York. His success at several exhibitions and the academics propelled his momentum. His ‘Women’s Day’ won a regional poster project with the WHO and it was placed at several centers around the country and beyond.

He is proud of his first Solo exhibition tagged ‘Buffalo Soldier’ in 1999 at the art district of North East Miami in Florida through the introduction of his ‘American godfather and benefactor, Professor Joseph Mcnair , and several other shows curated by Ludlow Bailey Asmar B Art Gallery that launched his fame among the scholars thereby initiating him as a relevant force at the annual Black History Month art shows at the Florida International University. Doba later extended his tents far and wide enough to be recognized at the popular 2001 Brooklyn Fulton art Fair by his mentor and spiritual father, Otto Neal.

His fame continued to soar among notable galleries after working briefly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the City Human resources proceeding several show features alongside the art biggies most especially at the great old Dorsey Gallery that produced the likes of Romare Bearden, Otto Neal, and Dr Ojo who connected him with Emmit Wigglesworth, Danny Simons and many other art icons in New York.

Doba Afolabi has been one of the notable official artists of Soul Basel ArtAfrica Miami and well known to the city of Miami Dade County Tourism where his piece served as a page headline for Basel visitor’s directory.

He was hailed in rousing accolades while he performed live painting to the admiration of hundreds of dignitaries at Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce Gala Night in Hilton on Bizcayne Ballroom Miami where he was invited as the official artist.

There have been series of media coverage on Doba Afolabi works from Miami Herald to Washington Post through his major handler in Washington DC; Zenith Gallery who sold his work “Washington Jam” to Washington DC state acquisition. Doba Afolabi was inducted lately as a selected artist in Department of State Art in Embassies Program, where his piece “MidDay Market I” has been transported to American Embassy in Guinea for an art show while his ongoing art shows can be viewed in Amsterdam Whitney Gallery New York Several Galleries from New York to UK, Africa to Middle East and beyond bear the works of Doba Afolabi who is noted among prominent artist in Brooklyn. The record of contemporary artist in Diaspora will always include Doba Afolabi whose works have been at popular auctions like Tom Joyner, Amref USA, Artsy online, Empire show through Gallery Guichard Chicago, and a couple of others while he has been mentioned among artists like Derrick Adams, Toyin Odutola, Danny Simons, Wangeshi Mutu and prominent others major Afro contemporaries. One of his biggest accomplishments according to him has been the acquisition of his 2 major pieces of 12 feet apiece, collected by OneUnited Bank California.

����Ӱҵ’s implemented several programs meant to create a thriving arts and culture setting on campus that would also build partnerships with our culturally rich community throughout the New York area. The Aaron Davis Hall Gallery and Windows on Amsterdam: Community Art Gallery were launched as prominent spaces to display art work, exhibitions and related programming that elevate the profile of the City College Center for the Arts in the greater New York area, and connecting the College to the surrounding community through the arts.  Programming is presented in collaboration with The City College Center for the Arts and ����Ӱҵ’s Office of Institutional Advancement, Communications and External Relations.

Since their inceptions, many exhibitions covering a broad range of art-historical periods and styles have been initiated by the gallery, with undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, community organizations and other scholars serving as curators. Recent exhibitions included Koho Yamamoto: A Sensei and Her Students, Unveiled, Unlocked: My Hair is Not My Femininity, Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters; Honoring Faith: A Tribute to Faith Ringgold; The Long Walk to Freedom: Portraits of Civil Rights Activists Then and Now; and If They Came for Me Today: The Japanese American Internment Project.

All exhibitions are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.