Ayo Akingbade is an artist, writer and filmmaker who works across film, print and installation. Her practice explores themes of power, urbanism and stance. Many of her early works document the effects of rapid social change brought about by gentrification in London, with a particular focus on the borough of Hackney in East London, where she was raised. Akingbade has made twenty short films, ranging from experimental hybrids to more conventional narratives.
Their work has been widely screened at venues including the New York Film Festival (US), Viennale (AT), International Film Festival Rotterdam (NL), the Barbican Centre in London, and MoMA’s Doc Fortnight in New York. Jitterbug was selected for Directors’ Fortnight at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival (FR).
Her first monograph, Show Me The World Mister, was published in 2023. She has previously held artist residencies at Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht (NL), Borderland Residencies at Ludwig Forum Aachen (DE) and Triangle-Astérides in Marseille (FR).
Ayo is currently working on her feature film debut.