Adebisi Fabunmi, also known as FAB, was born in Takoradi, Ghana, in 1945. Living near his sister in Oshogbo, Nigeria, he encountered dramatist Duro Ladipo and became an actor in his theater company, immersing himself in the vibrant cultural scene that would shape his artistic trajectory.

In 1964, Fabunmi participated in workshops organized by Georgina Beier, marking the beginning of his visual arts career. As one of the founding members of the legendary Oshogbo Art Movement, he emerged alongside contemporaries Jimoh Buraimoh, Muraina Oyelami, Twins Seven-Seven, and Rufus Ogundele during Nigeria's post-independence cultural renaissance.

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Though primarily known for his linocut prints, Fabunmi worked across multiple media including oil paints, and painting on wool and yarn. His distinctive style drew heavily from traditional Yoruba imagery, with Oshogbo serving as a recurring theme and Yoruba sculptural effects evident throughout his work.

 

His monochrome compositions of signs and motifs on canvas re-enacted native Yoruba adire textile aesthetics, creating a visual bridge between traditional craft and contemporary art.

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Fabunmi held solo exhibitions in Nigeria and Kenya, with a major retrospective in Bayreuth, Germany, in 1989. His work has been featured in group exhibitions across London, New York, Vienna, and Prague, establishing him as an internationally recognized figure in African modernism.

 

His pieces remain permanently displayed at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art, cementing his legacy as a pioneering voice in contemporary Nigerian art.