Nike Davies-Okundaye is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated textile artists, known for adire (indigo resist-dyed cloth), batik and her work in building art centres that train and support young artists. Born in 1951, she has spent decades promoting Yoruba textile traditions at home and abroad. This guide covers her life, her art and her legacy, based on widely available public information. Some details vary between sources, so we have kept to the points that are commonly reported.
Early Life and Training
Nike Davies-Okundaye grew up in a family of weavers and dyers and learned traditional dyeing and cloth-making from women relatives from a young age. She later became associated with Osogbo, the Yoruba town famous for its modern art movement; read about it in our guide to the Osogbo art school.
Her Art: Adire, Batik and Beyond
Her work centres on adire, the Yoruba tradition of dyeing cloth in indigo with resist patterns made by tying, stitching or painting with starch, as well as batik and mixed-media textile works. These designs carry stories and symbols, and the craft is explained in our guide to Adire indigo cloth.
The Nike Art Centres and Gallery
She is the founder of the Nike Centre for Art and Culture in Osogbo and the Nike Art Gallery in Lagos, spaces that exhibit work and offer training in textile and visual arts. See the gallery in our guide to the Nike Art Gallery, and other places to see art in Yoruba artists.
Why Her Work Matters
- Preserving craft: she has trained many young people in dyeing and design.
- Supporting women: textile work gives many women income and skills; see the role of women in Iyalode.
- Connecting fashion and art: her style influences Yoruba fashion; read aso ebi and Lagos fashion week.
Visit and Learn More
Osogbo is also home to the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. For an outside summary of her career, see Wikipedia’s page on Nike Davies-Okundaye.
Nike Davies-Okundaye FAQs
Who is Nike Davies-Okundaye?
She is a Nigerian textile artist known for adire and batik and for founding art centres that support young artists.
What is adire?
Adire is Yoruba indigo-dyed cloth made with resist techniques.
Where is the Nike Art Gallery?
There are Nike art spaces in Lagos and Osogbo.
