Exhibition

Oluseye: by Faith and Grit

6 February – 27 April, 2025

Oluseye, Muhammad Had A Dream, 2021 – 24, detail, dimensions variable, boxing gloves, rubber, found objects. Photo: LF documentation. Courtesy of the artist and Daniel Faria Gallery.

Oluseye: by Faith and Grit explores the echoes of history and memory through the transformative lens of Nigerian-Canadian artist Oluseye. Engaging with Black Nova Scotian culture and African diasporic experiences, Oluseye uses his signature “diasporic debris”—found objects and materials rich with historical and contemporary resonance—to create installations that honour resilience, creativity, and faith. 

Through unexpected narratives, Oluseye connects themes of labour, sport, and national identity. For example, the toil of Black farmers is juxtaposed with the cultural pageantry of hockey, challenging Canada’s often exclusionary ideals of belonging. Another work reimagines the Canadian flag in Pan-African colours, incorporating materials gathered from Bedford Basin near the Africville heritage site. This poignant connection to the historic Black community uprooted in the name of urban renewal underscores themes of reclamation, memory, and perseverance. 

By weaving together personal, cultural, and historical stories, by Faith and Grit invites audiences to uncover beauty in the fragments of the past while reimagining national symbols and identities. It is a powerful celebration of toil, endurance, and legacy, offering a space for reflection and dialogue.