Alayo Akinkugbe is a writer, art historian, podcaster and the creator of the popular @ABlackHistoryofArt Instagram account. Alayo Akinkugbe started @ABlackHistoryofArt after feeling disheartened by the lack of African artists represented in her Cambridge history of art degree.
In fact, representation was so bad that they didn’t study a single African artist during her first year at university. In her second year, Alayo’s relationship with history changed when she started studying contemporary Black artists such as Martine Symes and Isaac Julien. She finally felt understood, seen and inspired.
This lack of African representation in her studies led Alayo Akinkugbe to launch her social media page to discover about the Black history of art. @ABlackHistoryofArt began as a lockdown project after the 2020 George Floyd protests in the USA. Now, it has garnered an impressive 65,000 Instagram followers.
As well as this, Alayo Akinkugbe is also the host of a podcast called ‘A Shared Gaze’, which showcases conversations with contemporary Black artists from across the globe. Alayo was also recently featured in British Vogue. She also recently curated an exhibition titled “baby hair and afros”, which mediates on contemporary representations of afro hair and its surrounding politics.
Recognised for her impactful advocacy, Alayo Akinkugbe’s work has been featured in prestigious publications such as British Vogue, further solidifying her role as a leading voice in the intersection of art, history, and social justice. Her efforts not only celebrate the past achievements of Black artists but also pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future in the arts.
As Alayo continues to expand her reach and influence, her dedication to reshaping art history through a lens of diversity and representation remains steadfast. Her initiatives inspire a new generation of art enthusiasts to embrace and celebrate the richness of Black cultural heritage, ensuring that overlooked narratives are brought to the forefront of global discourse.
In a Black History Of Art episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam and Alayo explore themes such as gender, racism, feminism and everything in between. The episode is an open, honest and at times deeply personal conversation about what it means to be a black artist in 2023.
Follow Alayo Akinkugbe on Instagram here.
Follow @ABlackHistoryofArt on Instagram here.
