Decoding faith: Oguntimehin’s artistic inquiry into intolerance

The artist’s Muted Loud delves into intolerance, coexistence, and freedom of belief through paintings that blend personal introspection with collective concerns.

IN a country where faith can unify as much as it divides, artist Ariyo Oguntimehin confronts these tensions through his latest solo exhibition, ‘Muted Loud.’ In a nation of diverse cultures and contrasting beliefs, Nigeria continues to grapple with recurring religious crises and a pressing need for tolerance.

Oguntimehin’s ‘Muted Loud’, opening December 12 at Tosho Art Gallery, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, directly addresses Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with religious crises and social division. The exhibition explores themes of intolerance, coexistence, and freedom of belief through paintings that combine personal introspection with collective concerns, reinforcing his belief that “where words divide, art must unite.”

“People are loud about religion but quiet about love,” Oguntimehin remarked in a conversation ahead of the show. “Muted Loud is my way of reversing that silence—allowing compassion and freedom to speak through art.”

For the artist, creativity must transcend doctrinal boundaries; thus, ‘Muted Loud’ offers a body of paintings and mixed media works that reveal the human cost of intolerance while imagining a more hopeful future.

One of the works, ‘The Crusader’, reflects on the damage religious intolerance inflicts within communities. Oguntimehin further addresses extremism in pieces such as ‘The Last Disciple’ and ‘The Witness’.

Another work, ‘Fire Beneath the Cross and Crescent’, shows a multi-faith figure ascending through a haze of smoke. The moment suggests renewal rather than conflict, embodying what one critic described as “a visual sermon of reconciliation.”

Sheila McFarland, a U.S. citizen attending and who previewed several pieces, noted that the exhibition promises to spark conversations across age groups, classes, and religious backgrounds.

“It makes you confront your own assumptions, and you leave feeling that peace is everyone’s responsibility,” she said.

Curator Tony Agbapuonwu emphasised the show’s importance in Nigeria’s current cultural climate: “Art can achieve what speeches often fail to convey. Ariyo’s work acts as both a mirror and an invitation to listen, encouraging dialogue on social justice and religious tolerance.”

Ahead of the opening, visitors to Oguntimehin’s studio and online viewers who saw him tease select works have praised ‘Muted Loud’ for its subtle marriage of beauty and advocacy.

The artist affirms, “My goal isn’t just to create art; it’s to foster empathy and remind us that true freedom of faith includes freedom from fear.”

Oguntimehin, a graduate of The Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, is a painter and photojournalist whose practice explores spirituality, identity, and social justice. He centres storytelling and community dialogue in his art and has participated in exhibitions across Nigeria. The artist uses his creative voice to promote peacebuilding and cultural education.