Art often mirrors life, but sometimes, it does more than we think. It dares to hold a mirror to our collective conscience.

In this powerful feature, Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger! we take you inside the mind and practice of Titus Agbara, a quietly brilliant artist whose journey from the known chaotic streets of Ajegunle to the coastal landscapes of the United Kingdom has birthed not only a compelling career but a body of work that moves the soul.

Known among peers and mentors as “Snoop” a nod to his uncanny resemblance to the music icon, and perhaps his smooth, steady brilliance and fashion sense, Agbara’s evolution as an artist has always been marked by emotional depth, cultural relevance, and technical patience. But with Exodus – Save Them Before They Die, he takes a bold and empathetic step into global storytelling.

This isn’t just another painting. It’s a conversation piece. A protest. A prayer. Writes Ireho Aito

What happens when an artist pauses at the shoreline not just to observe nature’s beauty, but to hear the silent cries beneath the waves? In Titus’s work, the sea becomes a stage where hope and tragedy coexist, where every brushstroke becomes a tribute to those who vanished searching for a better tomorrow.

The Quiet Genius from Ajegunle

Titus Agbara was always different. Born and raised in Ajegunle, Lagos, he had a calming presence and an otherworldly talent that made him stand out. Known for his humility and brilliance, he turned his family home into a sanctuary for young, aspiring artists. They came to watch him, learn from him, and be inspired.

Even as a student at the School of Art and Industrial Design at Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Titus had already caught the attention of fellow students right from the first year and they nicknamed him ‘Snoop’

Titus classmates couldn’t help but be struck by the uncanny resemblance between Titus and the one and only Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.

Just as Snoop Dogg’s smooth flow and charismatic stage presence have captivated music fans worldwide, Titus Agbara exudes a similar aura of greatness, even in the unassuming setting of his backyard studio. It was as if greatness has been brewing in this unlikely spot, waiting to be unleashed upon the world. And it eventually got unleashed to the world!

Visual Arts legends and father figures like Felix Osiemi and Abiodun Olaku saw in him something extraordinary.

Olaku, one of the founding pillars of Universal Art Studio, Iganmu, Lagos even called attention to his unique patience and originality, a trait many young artists often lack. Titus never rushed his work; he allowed it to breathe, to evolve. Abiodun Olaku confessed that Titus Agbara was unique in his work. In fact, Olaku yearned to meet him.

But one experience that left an indelible mark on the prestigious winner of People’s Choice Award at Manchester Open Awards 2024 was attending Inyang Inua’s painting exhibition in the 90s and the exhibition was titled ‘Flowers in the Desert.’ He still remembers and says “It opened my eyes to the world of painting,” he recalled. “People would come from all over to see and celebrate the artwork, and it was truly inspiring,” he affirmed.

As a student and later as a full-time artist, Titus Agbara became the cynosure of all eyes. Collectors and aficionados alike followed his work with anticipation.

But then came a shift.
After years of success in Nigeria, Titus relocated to the United Kingdom in 2007. The move wasn’t just geographical, it marked a shift in his artistic focus. New landscapes brought new emotional experiences.

While visiting the UK seaside for rest and inspiration, Titus, one of the best graduating students in his set at School of Art and Industrial Design, Federal Polytechnic Auchi was haunted by the symbolism of water at once a giver of life and a vessel of death. As he watched the waves, he thought of the thousands of migrants who never reached shore. Their stories washed up in his mind, uninvited and unforgettable.

Right there, an Aboriginal proverb came to him:

“We are all visitors to this time, this place…We are just passing through…
Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love…
And then we return home.”
Aboriginal Proverb

Back in his studio, Titus began sketching the first outlines of Exodus – Save Them Before They Die. What emerged was a layered, impressionistic piece marked by vivid colour, textured knife work, and emotional weight. It is both land and sea. Hope and despair. Arrival and loss.

More than an artwork, the work is a visual requiem. A record of journeys cut short, of humanity in flux, of the politics of borders and the universality of grief. And to cap it all, it is not just a painting, but a plea for humanity to come together.

In launching this new work Titus Agbara brings our attention to what too many overlook. Migration is not just policy. Migration is about people. And each line in Exodus – Save Them Before They Die, carries the urgency of saving them. Before it’s too late.

Words/ Ireho Aito/Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger!/Photographs/Google/
Titus Agbara archives/ Artwork/Titus Agbara gallery