Visual artist Zinno Orara has died aged 60, according to his colleagues.
One of them Gab Awusa paid tributes to him in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
“My friend, my brother has gone home to be with the Lord….Rest in peace Zinno Orara,” he wrote.
Founder of Omotayo Art Gallery Biodun Omotayo described him as a “gem” and “painter of philosophy”.
He added, “Zinno Orara, thank you for adding colours to the lives of others even when you were going through your own silent pains!
“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!”
Orara was born in 1964 in Benin, Edo State capital.
He graduated from the School of Art and Design, Auchi Polytechnic in 1988.
Orara had his first independent exhibition, Metamorphosis, at Didi Museum in 1991. Since then he has had 13 independent exhibitions and over 20 collaborations.
His works are exhibited all over Nigeria and overseas including South Africa, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain and the United States.
