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. Ayobola is also a Lecturer at the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos.
Ayobola’s work often explores subjects connected to gender, mythology, power and the human condition in a multi-layered way; creating work through a labour-intensive process. Her work is heavily informed by personal experiences and observations. She is particularly interested in exploring the subtle interplay of time, space, gender, power and social structures in contemporary society.
Ayobola works predominantly with a technique known as quilling, in which strips of paper are individually shaped to create forms. She tends to quill with a variety of materials that respond well to the technique; including ribbons and strips of canvas. She constantly experiments with new ways of exploring materials and their capabilities. Ayobola views the intricacy of her work as a visual metaphor of the complexity of the subject matter she engages with.
Selected Exhibitions
June 2022, Unity – Volery Gallery, Dubai
January 2022, Hand Land – C + N Canepaneri, Milan
November 2021, Hidden Message – Gallery Func, Shanghai
October 2021, LAX/ORD III: Growing the Focus – Vertical Gallery, Chicago
August 2021, The Invincible Hands – Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos
July 2021, Mother of Mankind – ADA Accra x House of Fine Art, London
June 2021, She and I (solo OVR) – UNIT, London
May 2021, Get a Load of This! – Daniel Raphael Gallery, London
October 2020, High Stakes (solo) – Guns and Rain, Johannesburg
January 2020, Young Contemporaries Alumni – National Museum, Lagos
October 2019, Making Matter: Materiality and Technology in Nigerian Art – Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos
July 2019, Suffrage – Guns and Rain, Johannesburg
May 2019, Imagine the Opposite – No End Contemporary, Johannesburg
April 2019, Resilient Lines (solo) – Rele Gallery, Lagos
May 2017, Idanimo – Terrakulture Gallery, Lagos
May 2017, In Honour of Professor Bolanle Awe – Museum of the Institute of Africa Studies University of Ibadan, Ibadan
February 2017, Her Story – Rele Gallery, Lagos
November 2016, Dysmorphia & Other Thoughts – Ake Arts and Book Festival, Abeokuta
January 2016, Young Contemporaries – Rele Gallery, Lagos
Art Fairs & Festivals
April 2022, Miart – Milan
March 2022, Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) – Oudtshoorn
December 2021, SCOPE Miami Beach – Miami
December 2020, Untitled Art Fair (OVR) – Miami
September 2019, Latitudes Art Fair – Johannesburg
July 2019, Turbine Art Fair – Johannesburg
November 2018, ArtX Lagos – Lagos
Awards
2021 – Absa L’Atelier Award
2018 – The Future Awards 2018 Prize for Creativity
2018 – The Dean Collection 20 St(art)ups Grant
2018 –The South African Research Chair Initiative for Visual Arts Doctoral Scholarship
2016 – Rele Art Foundation “Young Contemporaries” Grant
2014 – University of Lagos, Convocation Prize
2012 – United States Consulate General ‘Women’s History Month’ Art Contest
Selected Press