BIOGRAPHY
Ayobola Kekere-Ekun (b. 1993) is a contemporary visual artist. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Her B.A. and M.A. in Visual Arts were received from the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos, where she majored in Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Art and Design at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kekere-Ekun works predominantly with a technique known as quilling, in which strips of paper are individually shaped to create forms. Her work is heavily informed by personal experiences and observations. She is particularly interested in subjects connected to gender, mythology, memory, and trauma.
Kekere-Ekun’s work has been exhibited in several fairs and exhibitions all over the world, including Latitudes Art Fair Johannesburg (2024), Arte Fiera, Bologna (2023), and SCOPE Miami Beach (2021). Her first solo exhibition in 2019, “Resilient Lines” at Rele Gallery, was supported by a grant awarded by the Dean Collection, a contemporary art collection created by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean). Kekere-Ekun was also a recipient of the ABSA L’Atelier Award in 2021.
AWARDS
2021 Absa L’Atelier Award
2018 The Future Awards 2018 Prize for Creativity
The Dean Collection 20 St(art)ups Grant
2016 Rele Art Foundation “Young Contemporaries” Grant
2014 University of Lagos, Convocation Prize
2012 United States Consulate General ‘Women’s History Month’ Art Contest
EXHIBITIONS
2024 Global Muses (OVR)– Vortic Art
2024 Unveiling Perspectives– C+N Gallery CANEPANERI, Genoa
2024 Her Alchemy – House of Fine Art (HOFA), London
2024 Messages from Contemporary Africa – Japan-Africa Contemporary Art Association (JACAA), Yokohama
2024 Decade – Guns and Rain, Johannesburg
2023 The Sound of Our Souls – UTA Artist Space, Los Angeles
2023 Another Life (solo) – C+N Gallery CANEPANERI, Milan
2023 A Field of Dreams – BKhz Galley, Johannesburg
2023 The Power of Play and Borderline Battles (solo) – ADA Contemporary Art Gallery, Accra
2022 Refuge: An Uncommon Home – ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg
2022 Poetics of Material – Rele Gallery, Los Angeles
2022 Perspectives – Thinkspace Projects, Los Angeles
2022 Unity – Volery Gallery, Dubai
2022 Hand Land – C+N Gallery CANEPANERI, Milan
2021 Hidden Message – Gallery Func, Shanghai
2021 LAX/ORD III: Growing the Focus – Vertical Gallery, Chicago
2021 The Invincible Hands – Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos
2021 Mother of Mankind – ADA Contemporary Art Gallery, Accra x House of Fine Art (HOFA), London
2021 She and I (solo OVR) – UNIT, London
2021 Get a Load of This! – Daniel Raphael Gallery, London
2020 High Stakes(solo) – Guns and Rain, Johannesburg
2020 Young Contemporaries Alumni – National Museum, Lagos
2019 Making Matter: Materiality and Technology in Nigerian Art – Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos
2019 Suffrage – Guns and Rain, Johannesburg
2019 Imagine the Opposite – No End Contemporary, Johannesburg
2019 Resilient Lines (solo) – Rele Gallery, Lagos
2017 Idanimo – Terrakulture Gallery, Lagos
2017 In Honour of Professor Bolanle Awe – Museum of the Institute of Africa Studies University of Ibadan, Ibadan
2017 Her Story – Rele Gallery, Lagos
2016 Dysmorphia & Other Thoughts – Ake Arts and Book Festival, Abeokuta
2016 Young Contemporaries – Rele Gallery, Lagos
ART FAIRS
2024 Art Toronto – Toronto
2024 Latitudes Art Fair – Johannesburg
2023 Future Fair – New York
2023 Arte Fiera – Bologna
2022 Miart – Milan
2022 Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) – Oudtshoorn
2021 SCOPE Miami Beach – Miami
2020 Untitled Art Fair (OVR) – Miami
2019 Latitudes Art Fair – Johannesburg
2019 Turbine Art Fair – Johannesburg
2018 ArtX Lagos – Lagos