Said Oladejo-Lawal Brings Music to Life in His Paintings
By AnnMarie McCallister, director of marketing and communication at the McConnell Arts Center
My Voice and Dance by Said Oladejo-Lawal—along with In Good Company by Linda Hutchinson—will be on view from July 10 through Aug. 28, 2025 at the McConnell Arts Center in Worthington. Said was recently selected as one of the exhibiting artists at the 2025 Columbus Arts Festival, where he noted, “The crowd is such an art loving one with lots of commitment to purchase!”
AnnMarie: How did you get started in your art form? What do you remember about first being intrigued by it?
Said: Apart from the cliché but true statement of drawing and painting since early childhood, I used to get taken to my father’s house painting sites. My father would tell the stories of wearing the same uniform as I sit on his shoulders to work, hence I grew up helping him with his projects and learning about colors with their use them. Fascinated by colors, I recall looking through my dad’s drawer full of color charts, drinking it all in as I got wowed by the color swatches. I later got into college to study fine art, painting and then graphic design later.
AnnMarie: Who are some of your inspirations?
Said: I am highly fascinated by music and the effect it has on me and billions other people; although I do not play any instrument, I indulge in the art of listening and appreciating the nuances of musical instruments, especially the strings. I paint music and sound as a way of presenting the crucible of life and my existence. I have set myself on the journey of communicating emotions through my colors, brushwork and mark making. Helping to take the viewer through the journeys of reminiscing and discovery.
Making My Reality, by Said Oladejo-Lawal
AnnMarie: What is your process for creating your art?
Said: I paint mostly with acrylic on canvas, less with oil and charcoal. I love to make my detailed and usable sketches with charcoal on my canvas while making all the corrections and getting the intricacies right. The next step is to work out my color schemes and apply the colors.
AnnMarie: What question do you get asked most often about your art, and how do you answer?
Said: The question of how long a piece takes is a common one. I let people know that it all starts long before I put charcoal and paint on canvas, a period of sketches and mental problem solving in colors with decisions on how to start from lightest to the darkest or the other way round.
AnnMarie: What do you do to relax or unwind?
Said: I listen to music, podcasts, watch movies with my wife and go strolling in the park. I listen to Gregory Porter, Lizz Wright, Diana Krall, Luther Vandross, King Sunny Ade, Nora Jones, Etana, Bob Marley and Tord Gustavsen, to mention a few.
Said Oladejo-Lawal interacting with customers at the 2025 Columbus Arts Festival
AnnMarie: What are some of your favorite things about Columbus?
Said: Columbus is a very art conscious city. The Short North is a great environment for the arts with the presence of the galleries such as Lindsay Gallery, Studio on High, Macia Evans and Sharon Weiss, both on East Lincoln. The Franklinton area is also growing.
The cultural integration in Columbus is also encouraging and the food is Wow! We mostly eat at Pat’s Delicious Nigerian restaurant and Ng Ng Intercontinental Nigerian restaurant. The existence of many African stores makes it very easy for my wife to make many of our traditional dishes as well.
My Voice and Dance by Said Oladejo-Lawal—along with In Good Company by Linda Hutchinson—will be on view from July 10 through Aug. 28, 2025 at the McConnell Arts Center (777 Evening St. in Worthington). The exhibition is free, and the public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, July 10 from 6-8 p.m. Said will also be leading a gallery tour on Thursday, Aug. 7 from 7-8 p.m.
This article is part of a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as part of the Art Makes Columbus campaign. Explore a calendar of events, public art database and artist stories at columbusmakesart.com. To learn more about GCAC grants visit gcac.org.