BIO-DATA

Ato is an artist with special interest in Portraits Sculptures, and Statues. his grasp for forms, attest to his skills 
particularly in handling figural sculptures. Born in Mushin, Lagos in the mid 60’s, his parents are from Southeastern State (Biafraland) of Nigeria. He attended Afolabi Primary Institute, Oshodi in Lagos between 1972-1978, then Zixton Secondary School, Ozubulu, Anambra State between 1978-1983. He was admitted to study Art in Federal Polytechnic Oko in 1986 where he obtained the Ordinary National Diploma in 1988, later proceeded to Yaba College of Technology between 1989 and1991 for his Higher Diploma, majoring in Sculpture.
Ato has been a full time studio artist since 1991, practicing as a Sculptor and a Potter, he finds happiness helping young ones grow mentally, physically and in other areas of life. A good natured humanitarian, a realist who gain satisfaction by self sacrifice, one who sees art as a gift of life to those who have and knows, for those who do not have and knows not. Ato is not just a sculptor and a potter, but one with a difference, who does his work with a great sense of committement and sincerity. He is a natural Teacher and a Leader, one who derives satisfaction from the joy of others, someone who gets pleasure from raising and building young artists to become proud of what they do.
Ato have participated in many group exhibitions within and outside the Nigeria, with many sculpture commissions to his credit, such as the Bust of the first President of Nigeria Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe which he executed in the year 2000, a collaborative project with Chike Oyeka at his studio in Onitsha. Recently his Statue of Chief Bode Akindele, The Parakoyi of Ibadan Land was commissioned and unveiled in June 2021.
He was a recipient of the Solidra Award for Sculpture and Pottery in 2002 and in 2008 was awarded the Society Nigerian Artists (Lagos State Chapter) Distinguished Artist Award