Painting stolen from Black Visual Arts Exhibition in London, Ont.
Hope, by Nigerian-born Olukayode Ojo, was taken Thursday from Somerville 630
Curators of a London, Ont., art exhibit featuring Black artists are asking the public for help to recover a stolen painting.
Malvin Wright, co-curator of the Black Visual Arts Exhibition at Somerville 630, a hub for food, arts and culture in Old East Village, said an unidentified man entered the space at about 4 p.m. ET Thursday.
After spending some time with the paintings, Wright said, he took a work called Hope by Nigerian-born artist Olukayode Ojo off the wall and fled for the exit.
Several staff working at other venues in the community hub attempted to stop him. But despite a tussle, Wright said, the suspect managed to get away and ran onto Dundas Street with the painting. Staff did not see where he fled.
"We are frustrated," said Wright. "We wanted to make a positive contribution to the economic renewal of that neighbourhood. We are disappointed that way, but we're not slighted by what took place."
Wright curated the exhibit with artist Amsa Yaro to showcase the talents of London's Black community. The Black Visual Arts Exhibition opened in April and has been extended to June 30 due to its success.
Artist's 1st public display
The stolen work is among several contributed by Ojo to the exhibit. It is his first time displaying his art to the public.
"I want to believe that the person took the painting because they loved it. I want to see the good side of all of this," Yaro said. "But unfortunately, you can't take something that doesn't belong to you, especially when it's someone else's hard work."
This painting, Hope, was stolen today from the Black Visual Arts Exhibition in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ldnont?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ldnont</a>. Please share and contact the police if you have seen it or have any info. Thank you. <a href="https://twitter.com/CTVLondon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CTVLondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCLondon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBCLondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RtvLondon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RtvLondon</a> <a href="https://t.co/P1fbHJ4PQ6">pic.twitter.com/P1fbHJ4PQ6</a>
—@AmsayaroWright added that while he and Yaro will work with Ojo to compensate him for the stolen painting, they have not been discouraged from putting on another future exhibit at the space.
"The most amazing thing is the title of the painting is called Hope," Wright said. "For me that rings volumes because in many ways, I think with all that is happening, hope was that one tactile piece in many ways that so many of us were holding on to.
"We are being supported by the space, by those around us, by members of our community to continue doing what we're doing and to keep pressing, to keep pushing and to make a positive contribution."
Wright said that because of this experience, he is considering naming the next exhibit Hope.
CBC News has reached out to London police, but they did not immediately respond on Friday.
For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
