Symbols and Surfaces with Toyin Loye

Nigerian artist, Toyin Loye creates works that feels full of signs, stories, and hidden meanings. His art draws a lot from Yoruba culture, with masked figures, patterns, and symbols showing up repeatedly. Nothing in the work feels accidental — every shape, cutout and mark seems to be carrying some kind of memory.

What makes his recent work especially interesting is how he plays with surfaces. He often works with photographs, paper, carving, colour, and texture, sometimes cutting and puncturing the image so it feels almost sculptural.

Toyin’s signature cutouts reminds us that culture and experience is not flat or simple — it has depth, beauty, secrets.

See some of our favourites from the African artist.

Purchase Toyin’s work on Artco.