Adedolapo Boluwatife is a photographer and filmmaker from Lagos, Nigeria, born in the Ojodu area in 1996. He studied English Language and Literary Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Initially a writer and sketch artist, his zeal to explore more media of expression led him to join the university photography club, where he was exposed to modernist and avant-garde photography. Immersing himself in the works of Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Man Ray, Ansel Adams, and contemporary photographers like Viviane Sassen and Rotimi Fani-Kayode, he found his voice in photography and filmmaking.
As an introvert, Adedolapo struggled to vocalize the many ideas and thoughts that flood his mind, but photography and filmmaking became the most effective means of expression for him. His work reflects personal experiences, beliefs, and challenges, often symbolizing his struggles to fit into and contribute to society and his quest for freedom. Profoundly shaped by his environment, his current nature-themed works stem from a newfound appreciation for the healing power of nature, emphasizing its importance for mental and creative well-being. With creative use of natural lighting and intense composition, he exposes his opinions, concerns, beliefs, adventures, and ordeals through his work, exploring the multifaceted realities of society; from its stunning beauty to its stark challenge, shedding light on complex elements like beauty, gender, politics, mental health, climate, human culture, and lifestyle.
His work has earned him numerous honors, including second place in the 2024 Art Partner CreateCOP29 Art Prize and finalist status for the 2024 Daniel Tagmani Foundation Grant for Photography. Other notable achievements include the LensCulture Fine Art Award Finalist, 2024; Prazzle Inc. Galaxy Artist Grant, March 2024; HUG 2024 Artists to Watch; LensCulture Critics’ Choice Award in 2023; and shortlisting in the Fine Art category of the 2022 500px GPA Award. He was also a finalist at the Agora Images World ‘Eyes’ Photo contest in 2019 and the CAP Prize (Contemporary African Photography) 2024. Adedolapo was commissioned to shoot the cover for the Booker Prize and Dylan Thomas Prize-shortlisted novel, A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀. His work has been featured on platforms such as Nataal UK, Nowness, Behance, MAPS Magazine (South Korea), Obscura Magazine (Bulgaria), It’s Nice That, Bored Panda, The Phoblographer, Fair Planet, Tender Photo, and Gida Journal.
Adedolapo has exhibited his works internationally, including in Paris at the Identité Plurielle group exhibition; in Lagos at the Through the Lens group exhibition at the Alliance Française de Lagos; in Lithuania at the IPMA Photography Festival; and at Africa Foto Fest in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Adedolapo Boluwatife currently lives and works in Lagos as a freelance photographer and filmmaker. He is currently focusing on projects relating to mental health and climate. His ongoing project, "Invitation to Invade," is a pro-nature and eco-conscious themed project that focuses on the issues of plastic pollution and its dangers.