Morenike Olusanya, popularly known as Renike, is a woman whose artistry transcends mediums.
An award-winning artist, illustrator, designer, entrepreneur, and social media powerhouse, she is also the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Bawsty Clothing and Retail—a brand that redefines style through boldness, confidence, and cultural pride.
Her work is rooted in storytelling. As an artist, Renike is celebrated for her evocative illustrations that explore identity, womanhood, and resilience.
Beyond exhibitions and personal projects, she has lent her creative vision to the literary world, designing and illustrating book covers for acclaimed authors, including Aminata Touré, Germany’s first Black female minister; award-winning American author Coe Booth; and bestselling Jamaican-American writer Nicola Yoon. Through these works, she helps authors transform their words into visual identities that resonate with readers worldwide.
Renike’s artistry extends into advocacy. She is a Partner, Illustrator, and Designer at LIGHT (Leaders Igniting Generational Healing and Transformation), a public health company founded in 2021 to bridge the gap between experts and communities through creativity. Here, she demonstrates her belief that design and art can do more than inspire—they can heal, educate, and transform societies.
Her path has been shaped by both talent and discipline. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts (Graphic Design) from the University of Lagos, grounding her work in both academic rigor and cultural context.
Over the years, her work has been featured by Vogue, CNN Africa, Culture Custodian, Okay Africa, and The Guardian, affirming her position as one of Nigeria’s most visible creative voices. She has also collaborated with global brands such as Dark & Lovely, Hulu, Routledge, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Wilson’s Juice Co., and Olori Cosmetics.
Recognition has followed her impact. In 2021, she was named one of Leading Ladies Africa’s 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria. The following year, she was nominated for The Future Awards Africa Prize for Art and Literature and won the Lord’s Achievers Special Recognition Award: A Lady Making Impact Through Art.
Today, as co-founder of Bawsty Clothing and Retail, Renike fuses her artistic sensibility with business acumen, shaping how the brand tells its story and connects with its audience.
For her, fashion is not just an industry but an extension of art—a medium through which women express identity, challenge stereotypes, and embrace bold confidence.
When she is not creating masterpieces or leading brand strategy, she is mentoring young artists, guiding them to find their voices in an often-challenging creative landscape.
This role reflects her belief that art and design are not solitary pursuits but collective movements that thrive on shared knowledge and collaboration.
In all her pursuits—whether in the gallery, on the pages of books, in global campaigns, or through Bawsty—Morenike Olusanya embodies the power of art as culture and enterprise.
Her journey is a testament to the boundless possibilities that emerge when creativity meets purpose, and when women step into spaces as both visionaries and changemakers.
