EXPLORING THE IMAGE OF DR. (MRS.) FOLASHADE OLUKOYA THROUGH MIXED-MEDIA PORTRAITURE: A FUSION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLAGE AND CUBIST TECHNIQUE

This project explores the image and legacy of Dr. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Folashade Olukoya through a contemporary mixed-media portraiture approach that fuses photographic collage and cubist techniques. The study investigates how the use of symbolic visual elements, combined with modern art styles, can represent an individual’s identity, values and societal impact in a layered and engaging format. Drawing from various published photographs that document Dr. Olukoya’s public engagements, achievements and contributions, the background of the portrait is developed using cut-out print images that serve not only as visual texture but also as narrative fragments of her journey. The foreground adopts a cubist technique to reconstruct her facial and bodily features, emphasizing multiplicity of perspectives and abstraction. This stylistic choice aims to break the traditional norms of portraiture by presenting the subject in a dynamic, interpretive and conceptually rich format. Through this visual synthesis, the work communicates both the personal and public dimensions of Dr. Olukoya’s persona. The study further discusses the theoretical and aesthetic foundations of mixed-media art and cubism, highlighting their relevance in contemporary visual culture. It also reflects on how portraiture can evolve into a tool for storytelling, memory preservation and public recognition. The final output is a large-format portrait that combines material experimentation, visual symbolism and narrative depth to celebrate a distinguished individual.