Ashiata Shaibu-Salami

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Ashiata Shaibu-Salami is a contemporary mixed media artist born in Ibadan, Nigeria. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Ibadan. Her artistic practice explores deeply personal themes such as internal struggle, self-awareness, and the complexity of the human mind. Having experienced mental health challenges in her early years, Ashiata channels those experiences into her work, using art as a tool for navigating emotional landscapes and fostering self-reflection.

Her paintings examine vulnerability, trauma, healing, and the shifting terrain of personal growth. Through acrylics and paper collage on canvas, she captures the tension between visibility and obscurity—between consciousness and the subconscious. Her figurative compositions reflect inner conflict and emotional freedom, illuminating the raw, often unspoken aspects of human experience.

Since beginning her professional art career in 2022, Ashiata has exhibited in Crossroads at SMO Contemporary Art Gallery (2022), Interconnected by Forme Femine (2022), and Artist Commune with One Art Gallery (2024). She has also been recognized by Artsy as one of the women artists to watch, affirming her growing presence in the contemporary art scene.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is rooted in the terrain of the mind—our internal journeys, and the ways in which thoughts, emotions, and beliefs shape how we experience the world. Through abstract figurative painting, I explore the relationship between our inner and outer realities, aiming to capture the space between the seen and the unseen.

I work primarily with acrylic and paper collage, layering textures and colors to give form to emotions that are often difficult to articulate. The figures I paint inhabit spaces shaped by reflection, struggle, and transformation. These works are informed both by my personal experiences and by the stories of others.

For me, painting is a way to bridge the conscious and subconscious—a visual language that invites viewers to recognize parts of themselves within the work. I don’t seek to offer conclusions or answers, but rather to create moments of stillness and reflection. A reminder that, even in our most uncertain times, we are not alone.