Forever is among the most tender and compositionally generous of Gbemileke Adekunle's works. The subject is maternal, the forms of two figures so fully intertwined as to become, at certain moments, a single organic shape. Adekunle renders this in oil and oil pastel on canvas at 52 x 70 inches, using the warm yellow ground of this painting to create an emotional atmosphere quite distinct from the cooler registers of the blue-field works. The handling of paint is notably free and gestural, the marks moving quickly across the surface in a way that suggests the spontaneity of a work made in a state of deep engagement with its subject. The maternal theme in contemporary Nigerian and West African painting carries significant cultural resonance, connecting contemporary practice to a long tradition of representing the mother-child relationship as a site of social and spiritual meaning. The certificate of authenticity for this work is signed by the artist and dated 18 August 2024.