Chief Shongo Obadina is a licensed plumber and pipe fitter by trade, community activist and artist. Born 1946 and raised in Columbus’ he spent several years in New York and Boston.
It’s been 30 years since the VISTA graduate and resettled in Columbus. In 1976 Chief Shongo established the William H. Thomas Art Gallery at 1270 Bryden Road and two years later the Urban Cultural Arts Foundation.
Since this time he is volunteering as the executive director and the curator, and is dedicating to help the people in the community and around. His efforts have enabled the foundation and the gallery, both not for profit, volunteer- based organizations, to live, to grow and to become an active part of providing inspirations and encouragement for better living conditions. Ed Colston, Aminah Robinson, Queen Brooks, Pheoris West, Barbara Chavous, and Smoky Brown - countless artists from Ohio, the U.S. and around the globe have exhibited at Chief Shongo’s gallery. Poets, singers, musicians and dancers have left their spirit vapor in every room. Parts of his volunteer efforts Chief Shongo spend as an active member of boards or committees, for example of South Side Settlement House (Board president for 6 years) and NEAC planning committee (13 years), Central Community House, and the Police Athletic League. Chief Shongo is a great artist, too. His woodcarvings and copper expressions are to discover in front, at the back and on every level at the William H. Thomas Gallery – the house is an art work itself! His latest art piece is the dragon in his back yard (see: DRAGON STORY).
BABA Chief Shongo Obadina develops his own art work as he has worked to develop others’
"Flower of Life"
2005, wood carved wall hanging , 5 feet by 5 feet - red wood from California
2009 - Baba Shongo carved the "Flower of Life" in Campello sul Clitunno, Umbria, Italy
"Dragon" sculture, wood, screws 30' to 7' feet, 2008, back yard of Shongo Obadina's gallery in Columbus
the dragon is finished and painted - please check out the whole DRAGON STORY on this website!
"Pythagoras"
installation in front of the William H. Thomas Art Gallery (wood and copper)
"Pyramid"
sculpture copper and wood - filled with 900 pounds of sand
window shutters, wood carvings installed at the WHT Art Gallery, first floor - African Pata Keys - Drawn by Bintu Onaly, Nigeria and carved by Baba Shongo Obadina, Ohio
Carved door way on slabs and church bench banister - first floor at the WHT Art Gallery
2005, wood carved wall hanging , 5 feet by 5 feet - red wood from California
2009 - Baba Shongo carved the "Flower of Life" in Campello sul Clitunno, Umbria, Italy
"Dragon" sculture, wood, screws 30' to 7' feet, 2008, back yard of Shongo Obadina's gallery in Columbus
the dragon is finished and painted - please check out the whole DRAGON STORY on this website!
installation in front of the William H. Thomas Art Gallery (wood and copper)
sculpture copper and wood - filled with 900 pounds of sand
window shutters, wood carvings installed at the WHT Art Gallery, first floor - African Pata Keys - Drawn by Bintu Onaly, Nigeria and carved by Baba Shongo Obadina, Ohio
Carved door way on slabs and church bench banister - first floor at the WHT Art Gallery 
Banister, Woodcarving - African Pata Keys 
Stairway - Lath symbols
