Veteran Visual Artist, Prof. Yusuf Grillo, has passed away at the age of 86.
He reportedly died as a result of complications that arose from the COVID-19 infection.
The deceased son, Gboyega Grillo, who is visibly shaken by the development, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said his father died in the early hours of Monday, August 23, 2021.
Grillo, who could not hide his emotions, said he was so pained that he wasn’t able to speak to the media, due to the shock and preparations toward the burial.
He said the remains of his father would be buried on Monday at 4 p.m at Atan cemetery in Lagos.
A contemporary Nigerian artist, born in 1934 and known for his inventive works and the prominence of the color blue in many of his paintings, he is considered one of Nigeria’s outstanding and academically trained painters.
He was a former Head of the Department of Art and Printing, Yaba College of Technology in Lagos State.
Grillo was the first president of the Society of Nigerian Artists.