Our Artists in Residence 2026: Falilat Abiola Ibrahim

We are delighted to introduce the first of three artists joining us at Opera Village Africa as part of this year’s residency programme: Falilat Abiola Ibrahim. The sculptor lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. In her artistic practice, she works with materials such as stone, metal, concrete and clay, exploring the stories, memories and meanings they hold. Her interest in craftsmanship began at an early age, inspired by her father, who worked as a furniture maker. Today, Falilat combines traditional craft techniques with her own experiments with materials. Her work explores themes including cultural identity, memory and the human form.

Falilat arrived at Opera Village with an open mind and was warmly welcomed by the Burkinabè team, with friendly faces, smiles and a “liver sandwich”. She is looking forward to becoming part of village life, sharing her experience with the children and learning new things herself. Through workshops, she hopes to introduce the children to the basics of art and, among other things, show them the different types of stone found in their surroundings. She has also brought books for the library to encourage curiosity, discovery and learning.

But it is not only the workshops that inspire her. Falilat takes time to explore the grounds and their surroundings. She watches the birds, discovers sculptures along the paths and finds inspiration in the little things of everyday life. The peaceful atmosphere of Opera Village encourages her to slow down, observe more closely and discover new perspectives.

What connects us, and what can we learn from one another?

During her stay, Falilat hopes to learn as much as possible about the culture and everyday life in Burkina Faso, while also sharing something of her own culture. She is already discovering similarities between Nigeria and Burkina Faso that spark her curiosity and that she would like to explore further.

She is also interested in questions surrounding the role of women in society. Her artistic practice repeatedly engages with the representation of femininity. Through her everyday observations at Opera Village, she hopes to gain a deeper understanding of how such representations are understood and what they mean in a different cultural context.

For Falilat, the residency is not about knowing from the outset what the final outcome will be. Instead, she wants to experiment, ask questions and embrace new experiences. She hopes to learn, share her knowledge, question familiar ideas and draw inspiration from the people, landscape and materials around her. Her time at Opera Village is an opportunity for exchange and discovery, as well as a chance to look at her own artistic practice from a new perspective. We are delighted to welcome Falilat to Opera Village and look forward to seeing what impressions, experiences and ideas she takes away from her time here.

Find out more about the programme: www.operndorf-afrika.com/artist

The 2026–2027 Artist-in-Residence Programme is funded by