Olayinka Burney-Nicol

Born, 1927 in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Died, 1996

From the catalogue Commonwealth Artists of Fame 1952 - 1977 (Commonwealth Art Gallery, London, 1 June - 3 July 1977): “Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Her studies began at Long Island University, New York, in 1949 and concluded with two years at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London from 1955-57. In 1964 she spent a year at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiére, Paris.

Olayinka Burney-Nicol has been the most important artist in Sierra Leone for many years: in 1958 she was appointed Government Artist for ten years and has carried out numerous public commissions including the design of costumes for the famous Sierra Leone Dance Troupe’s world tour in 1964, including the New York Festival, and again in 1971 for a tour in Russia and the United States of America.”

»  Commonwealth Artists of Fame 1952 - 1977 - catalogue

Catalogue relating to an exhibition, 1977