Kehinde Akanni

I am a pottery artist from Nigeria who is most known for his conceptual and thematic clay pieces. My
work primarily features African themes, with the use of specially actualized motifs and designs from
traditional African visual culture depicting our social, economic, and religious lives. My use of Adire and
Yoruba motif is inspired by my personal aim to explore the lessons and objectives of my culture as a
personal lens with which I view the world. In a world that is overtaken by modernization, it is important
to remember our origins (cultures), which are mostly reflected in my works. Even at the height of
civilization, I want my art to teach and maintain the richness of African culture and to explain the
foundations of African religious, social and economic life.

Kehinde Akanni (b.1996) is a graduate of ceramics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
who had his internship at Atamora, Osun State. During the internship, he learnt the production of large
flower pots, vases and water pots as well as production of ceramic refractory bricks for kiln. He was also
exposed to wooden kiln firing but his appetite and hunger for excellence made him look outward for
inspiration and found the works of Djakou Kassi Nathalie whose engravings influenced him greatly. He
therefore decided to engrave Àdìre and Yoruba motifs on his works in order to elevate his patterns and
embellish his textures. These textures are used as entry points into his culturally layered symbols, texts,
and narrative. Kehinde has participated in a number of group exhibitions including Beyond Limit 2022
and Yorùbá Ni Mi, an online exhibition

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