Ayobola Kekere-ekun

Ayobola Kekere-Ekun (b. 1993) is a contemporary visual artist living and working in South Africa. She was born and raised 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. Kekere-Ekun is particularly interested in subjects connected to gender, mythology, memory, and trauma. She views the intricacy of her work as a visual metaphor for the weightiness and complexity of the subject matter she deals with.Kekere-Ekun's work has been exhibited in several fairs and galleries all over the world, including House of Fine Art (HOFA), London (2024), Japan-Africa Contemporary Art Association (JACAA), Yokohama (2024), Art021, Shanghai (2024), UTA Artist Space, Los Angeles (2023), Arte Fiera, Bologna (2023), and ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg (2022). Her first solo exhibition in 2019, 'Resilient Lines' at Rele Gallery, Lagos, 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 and the Future Awards Prize for Creativity in 2018.