With his exhibition titled, “Black Star”, the Nigerian born and London based artist, will be exhibiting his highly anticipated, second solo show on the 3rd of April, till the 5th of May 2025, at the Kearsey & Gold Gallery, in London. As well as exhibiting and delivering a presentation of his works, he also most recently curated the album cover for Afrobeats artist, ODUMODUBLVCK’s 2025 album, “THE MACHINE IS COMING”. In an exclusive interview, we explore and breakdown the various subjects surrounding authenticity, self-belief and creative boundaries.
With the legacy you’re building through your artwork, what deeper messages do you hope people connect with?
Soldier: While led, it’s been very done in a particular model, a very old model that doesn’t really, I guess, put people of colour first, and kind of pushes all our stories to the side. I think my job when I make work is put my story, especially stories like of people like me to the forefront. So, I try and champion that. I try and champion people who look like me, people who have my experiences, and also, shake up the scene and the industry of the artworld. The legacy I want to leave, I think with most of my work is very meticulous. It’s very detail oriented, and it holds, really rich stories. I always want to be able to tell stories that even in the future, the stories remain. So yeah, just leaving a mark and obviously making sure that the mark I’m leaving can be seen by people like me and inspire people like me.
SW: Absolutely, I feel sometimes, some people kind of have, which is, I guess, fine but they have this goal of, “I’m here to make money” and, yeah, but it’s nice to have someone that actually cares about their intentions with their crowd, because you find that a lot of people will just kind of be very, “I’ve got a business focus” approach to it, and that’s perfectly fine, but you know, you’re in touch with people. You’re not just surface level.
Soldier: But also I’m in touch with people, because I’m in touch with myself and many people who kind of feel the same way I feel. And many people kind of going through the same experiences, like going through and I feel like also it’s all about honesty. So, I start with myself, and I feel that other people can kind of feel that. I mean, I hope so. I mean, I know so yeah, it’s just, kind of telling stories for people like me to kind of latch on to and know that there’s someone going through the same experience and putting down the work. Money is great. Business is amazing. Business is cool, don’t get me wrong, but at the same time, it’s all about the stirring, it’s all about the craft.
SW: No, 100%, absolutely, I agree, facts.
How do you push creative boundaries while staying true to your signature style, but most importantly maintaining integrity?
Soldier: I wouldn’t say, I don’t try and restrict myself or limit myself to a style. I think the style is me and what I think about. And like I said, my experiences create the style. So, I’m a funnel for all these amazing experiences. Creative boundaries, obviously, I think by doing things I’ve never been seen before. And like I said, in the space in which I kind of take up, there’s like, a beautiful handful of people, our world is kind of materially known for being like a white, male dominated, led space. And obviously, by being who I am, I’m really breaking the boundaries already. So, I never really think so much about breaking boundaries. I just think to myself, “how do I make an idea better?”. Or “how do I make an idea as big as I can possibly do it?”. Staying like I said, staying true to myself is because I’m honest, at least to the works I make is like I make paintings of things that mean a lot to me. I kind of touch things that I see, in visions, in dreams, or you know, ideas. So yeah, I think by the time you kind of keep it in your heart, and you always keep in your hearts, you never really get carried away by what other people are doing or what’s happening right now and obviously having an honest story to tell. Like, yeah, you always break boundaries you know.
SW: Yes, you naturally will. I feel that when you’re passionate about it, you can’t fake it, you’re always going to be authentic regardless. Your work will always be groundbreaking.
So, as you’re a successful artist, how do you define success and what is your interpretation of success for you?
Soldier: Suggestively, it’s different things. I think many people sometimes think success is a monetary thing, oh, you have all this money, or you have all these Instagram followers. All of that is cool. Just adding to the success to me, is like thinking of an idea and see it come to life. For example, for this series, I remember the first we started speaking to the gallery about it, it was kind of scary, because it was kind of this idea that was written on paper. And I was like, how are we going to do this f*cking big show, and like with the sculptures, and when I finally saw all the works, finally, after six months, I felt complete, you know? I think success, to me is when you do have an idea, where you do say something, and then you do it, and you do it well. That’s how I define success.
Do you believe growing up in a working-class background delivers important and authentic art?
Soldier: I mean, it could, and I don’t really do the whole classism stuff, because I know there’s some rich kids out there who are also going crazy. But for myself, obviously, I didn’t grow up rich at all. I grew up in a very Nigerian background. My dad’s a reverend. We didn’t have much growing up. Obviously, that kind of put perspective into my head because I’m going out into the world thinking to myself, I need to, kind of like, make this work, you know? I need to, I need to work every day, just like my dad, just like my mom. I need to wake up in the morning, head to my studio and treat this like a job. You know, I feel, obviously the working-class background instils this virtue of continuously going and continuously pushing, Also, the stories you kind of get when you have no money is amazing, you know the, “Oh, I had that one time and I didn’t have anything to eat”. That’s great, you know, that grass to great story is amazing and kind of, it’s inspirational. So that kind of helps, that gives me motivation.
SW: I do agree with that as well. I guess as much as there’s working class people that can deliver authentic art, some of these rich kids, they’re coming in as well.
Does spirituality play a role in your artwork and life?
Soldier: yes, in a big way it does. And I do believe that, like obviously, the world in which we stay in is very three dimensional, and I think there’s stuff beyond that. Like I said, I grew up in a very Christian background, so there was, like, a lot of praying and the church informed my works. Because even my works, it feels like icons, you know, you see people on my canvas and it feels like in the church, like when you see a stained glass, like a mirror. So, I would say, yes, spirituality does that. It keeps me really grounded. It makes me think, it makes me reflect. And you can see that in my work.
What is one thing you have learned on your journey with being an artist?
Soldier: I would say this, I don’t think many artists, or many people make work. I think they take for granted the ability to make things, so you see someone say, " I’m an artist”, but you know, you’re not making enough paintings. In your drawings, I promise you spend your whole life making art. As an artist, you should spend your whole life being consistent. And you should treat your hobby or passion as a job. It can’t be like a one-time thing where, you’re inspired this one time, it needs to be every day. There needs to be systems in place. There needs to be things in place, like it’s a full-time job. So, I’ve kind of learned by being consistent in my job kind of helps my outputs, and it makes things, more legit.
SW: I agree, if you’re not consistent, you’re probably going to see rewards, but it’s going to be a bit longer.
Soldier: Exactly, and it’s okay for it to be long, and it’s okay for your practice to be quite slow, but show up to what you’re doing. Treat it like a baby. Feed it every day, and show up to it, and it’s going to grow.
SW: Yeah, I’m with that totally.
Is there a piece of advice that has always resonated with you till this day, and what is that?
Soldier: I would say this, no one should say I can’t, because everything is possible, it’s just based on how you feel it, and you know your work or body follows your mind. So watch what you think and watch what you say.
SW: I always say this, be careful what you put out and be careful what you wish for, because once you put it out into the universe, there’s no going back.
Soldier: Everything around us is someone’s dream, so just have faith.
