Jibola Fagbamiye is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary visual artist, illustrator, and storyteller whose work sits at the intersection of African history, political resistance, and North American pop culture. Working across mixed media, digital illustration, and graphic design, he blends the visual language of propaganda posters, pop art, and comics to interrogate power, identity, consumerism, and cultural mythology.

In 2025, Jibola co-created FELA: Music Is the Weapon (HarperCollins/Amistad), an acclaimed graphic-novel biography of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti, written with Conor McCreery. The book reimagines Fela’s life through magical realism, Afro-futurist symbolism, and political storytelling, positioning art itself as an act of resistance.

Previously, Jibola collaborated with cultural critic Miles Marshall Lewis on Promise That You Will Sing About Me (a biography of Kendrick Lamar), and illustrated Michael Harriot’s New York Times bestseller Black AF: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America. His work has been exhibited in Toronto, Los Angeles, and Lagos, and featured by outlets including the Toronto Star, CBC, Toronto Life, and many more.

Jibola’s practice spans fine art, publishing, and large-scale public commissions, with work exhibited at Union Station and distributed to hundreds of schools across Ontario. He lives in Toronto with his wife and son.

2025

  • Art Toronto, “2025 Canada Art Fair”, Metro Convention Centre, Toronto Canada

  • Book Launch “Fela Lives!”, Space Unltd, Toronto Canada.

  • Art Fair, "2025 Rosedale Art Fair", Rosedale , Toronto ON

2024

  • Group Exhibit, “In The Air”, The Local Gallery, New York City, United States

2023

  • Group Exhibit, “Hey Mickey”, The Local Gallery Toronto, Canada

2022

  • Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, "2022 Annual Art Fair", Nathan Phillips Square, Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "BIPOC Artists", NOVUS Pop Up Gallery, Toronto Canada,

  • Group Exhibition, "AGRODOLCE", The Local Gallery , Toronto Canada,

  • Art Fair, "Rosedale Art Fair", Rosedale , Toronto ON

2021

  • Solo Exhibition, 'Drop it Like it's Pop!', Redhead Gallery, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "MAKEROOM", ArtWorkxTO, Toronto Canada

2019

  • Group Exhibition, "Creating Hope", We Rise, Los Angeles, USA

  • Art Fair, "Distillery ArtFest", Distillery District , Toronto Canada

2018

  • Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, "Annual Art Fair", Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto Canada

  • Art Fair, "Distillery ArtFest", Distillery District , Toronto Canada

  • Art Fair, "Rosedale Art Fair", Rosedale , Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "Feminist Art Fair", Gladstone Hotel, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "Nuit Blanche", Jane Roos Gallery, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "ICONS", Arta Gallery, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "People of Toronto", WeWork, Toronto Canada

2017

  • Solo Exhibition, "Untitled", Hopper Coffee, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "Nuit Blanche", Redhead Gallery, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "Live Abstract", Super Wonder Gallery, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "50/50 Art Exhibit" Queen Gallery, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "Bombay Sapphire Artisan", Only One Gallery, Toronto

  • Art Fair, "Rosedale Art Fair", Rosedale , Toronto Canada

2016

  • Solo Exhibition, "Art Is..", Magic Pony Gallery, Toronto Canada

  • Art Fair, "Distillery ArtFest", Distillery District , Toronto Canada

  • Art Fair, "Rosedale Art Fair", Rosedale , Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "PRINT", John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "Black and White", Propellar Gallery, Toronto Canada

2015

  • Group Exhibition, "Raw Uprising", The Mud Club, Toronto Canada

2014

  • Solo Exhibition, "Alter Ego II", Wayla Bar, Toronto Canada

  • Group Exhibition, "Nuit Blanche", Elaine Fleck Gallery, Toronto Canada

2011

  • Solo Exhibition, "Alter Ego", 918 Gallery, Toronto Canada

 

PRESS

  • BlogTO, Becky Robertson, “This Toronto rental community is hosting a free pop-up gallery showcasing local BIPOC artists", NOVUS Pop-up, July 6, 2022

  • TasteToronto, Byron Armstrong, “The Local Gallery just launched A Pop Art show that's a feast for your eyes", The Local Gallery, June 23 2022

  • ByBlacks, Byron Armstrong, “Drops It Like It's Pop" With a New Book Deal and Exhibition" RedHead Gallery, Dec 8, 2021

  • ByBlacks, Byron Armstrong, "Art, Business & The "African" Canadian Experience" Hopper Coffee, Jan 6, 2019

  • TorontoLife, Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, "The Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series is sending a Toronto artist to Miami" Only One Gallery, Oct 25, 2017

  • Blank Spaces Magazine, Alanna Rusnak, "Filling the gap with story and colour" Different Strokes, Dec 01, 2017

  • AfroPunk, Alexander Aplerku, "Creating A “Stimulating, In Your Face, Visual Language” Art, Aug 21, 2015

                           

For any inquiries, please contact me at jibola@jibolastudios.com

Clients

WeWork, Microsoft, Allergan Medical, Dodge Viber, MuchMusic, Accenture, Big Studios, Lifetime Fitness, Acura, DIESEL Jeans, OneXOne, CAMH