I find Leonard’s works breathe life. They have the power to absorb my imagination and bring to life the scenes depicted in them through their realism and chromatic richness.

For our video-call meeting, Leonard took the trouble to step out of his art class for fifteen minutes or so, as this talented artist is still at university, in an arts program.

We talked about his artistic journey, which began at an early age with doodles and drawing everything he saw around him. His passion for art eventually won over his father, who initially saw no real value in it.

Leonard continued to perfect his art until one day he tried his hand at drawing Nigerian banknotes. Fearless, he was amazed when he went shopping with one of his bills without arousing any suspicion in the merchant. Eventually, he confessed to the merchant that he had designed the banknote himself, and the merchant returned the banknote and the ‘purchased’ product as a token of appreciation for his talent.

He could have gone into the thriving banknote counterfeiting business, but he decided to put his talent to more rewarding use. Leonard’s banknotes feature people who, in his opinion, are less privileged in society. These are often ordinary people living in rural Nigeria, to show that everyone has value and contributes to society. I think it’s a very subtle and judicious way of getting the universal message across since we all have a relationship with money on this planet.

Leonard draws his inspiration from his surroundings and the beauty he observes in them, as well as from his religious faith. Through his art, he aims to inspire optimism and hope. His dream is to establish a structure that discovers young talent and helps them hone their artistic skills. He believes that these young talents often end up trapped in careers they don’t like, even though they have a real artistic gift to develop. Often, family and social pressure make them give up on the possibility of becoming a professional artist. He intends to change that.

Leonard, thank you very much for our brief but valuable conversation. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I see a very bright and flourishing future for you, and I wish you all the best.

To purchase one or more of Leonard’s striking works, click here: https://mawuartgallery.com/product/yaba-market/

Follow him here: https://www.instagram.com/_ogarleonard/

Location: Lagos (Nigeria)