Nigerian contemporary Visual Artist, Zinno Akpoghene Orara better known as Zinno Orara is dead, aged 60.

Orara’s colleague, Gab Awusa, disclosed this on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

Awusa wrote, “My friend, my brother has gone home to be with the Lord….Rest in peace Zinno Orara.”

Also, Biodun Omotayo, Founder of Omotayo Art Gallery, took to his Facebook page to mourn the deceased saying, “WE LOST A GEM – ZINO Zinno Orara

A Graduate with distinction!

A brilliant visual artist!

A Philosopher!

A Painter of Philosophy!

A gentleman per excellence!

One of the cleanest Artists in Nigeria!

A lover of family!

A gentle mentor to children & teenagers!

“Zinno Orara thank you for adding colours to the lives of others even when you were going through your own silent pains!

“Young at Art Creative Workshop appreciates you, especially for coming to groom them on our 20th anniversary last year!

“Who would have imagined that your DIALOGUE at the National Museum, Lagos, this year was going to be your last major outing! Hmmm, life is so ephemeral!

“Zino, we love you but the Lord loves you more! Good night, finally, dear brilliant fine artist and friend! May the Lord rest your soul and grant your family the strength to bear your exit!”

Born on November 17, 1965, Zinno attended the Auchi polytechnic where he specialized in painting and illustration. Graduating at the top of his class, the 23 year old took home all the available prizes in his graduating set.

From Auchi, he went straight into studio practice at a time when the career trajectory for a fine artist was – graduate then become a cartoonist or work in advertising or lecture.

Zinno did no such thing. He embraced his art fully at a time when it was not the coolest thing to do.

Zinno’s first solo exhibition was at Didi Musuem in 1991, three years after his graduation. He became a household name with solo and group exhibitions following swiftly here in Nigeria and across the world from South Africa to Germany, Sweden to Spain, UK to US and Canada.

Zinno Orara’s preference for blue and yellow and brown are almost defining elements of his works. The colours imbue his pieces with a coolness that requires almost quiet introspection in their consideration and it does not matter whether the subject in the frame is a human being, a landscape scene or houses. There is always that calm quality that requires introspective inspection.