A Black History of Art Presents: A Shared Gaze

A conversation with Na Chainkua Reindorf a Ghanaian artist who works across textile, painting, sculpture and installation. Her work is heavily influenced by the rich cultural history of West African, particularly Ghanaian, textiles, from the weaving traditions of Kente, to Fante Asafo flags and Yoruba masquerade dress (aka Egungun). Chainky has also garnered a  following on her carefully curated Instagram page, which consists of fashion she has worn and art she has seen, organised in an impressive colour gradient. In 2022, Chainky was one of 3 artists to represent Ghana at the Venice Biennale in the pavilion Black Star: The Museum as Freedom. In this conversation, Chainky speaks to Alayo from Puerto Rico about the extraordinary experience of representing Ghana in Venice, as well as her life and her broader practice.Keep up with us on Instagram:Chainky:@chainkyr@ncreindorfAlayo:@ablackhistoryofart@alayoakinkugbe

A conversation with Isabel Okoro, a Nigerian photographer and filmmaker based between Toronto, Canada and Lagos, Nigeria. Isabel's practice is firmly rooted in world-building, she has invented a world called Eternity, which she describes as a “normatopia”. Normatopia is a word that Isabel coined to mean a space that exists at the sweet spot between harsh reality and utopia. She self-published her first monographic book in 2022, called Friends in Eternity and has produced work for clients including: Dazed, Essence, Vogue and Apple amongst many others. Two of her works were recently acquired by the Art Gallery of Toronto. In this conversation, Isabel speaks to Alayo from home in Lagos, Nigeria about her life and her practice Happy Cancer Szn :) Keep up with us on Instagram:Isabel: @isabelokorohttps://isabelokoro.com/Alayo:@ablackhistoryofart @alayoakinkugbe

A conversation with Tesfaye Urgessa, a painter based between Nurtingen, Germany and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tesfaye's paintings are figurative, fleshy and dynamic. There is often -- amidst the business of his paintings -- an anchor point in the form of a piercing gaze. In this episode, Tesfaye speaks to Alayo from his studio in Nurtingen, about his life and his practice. *apologies for the low sound quality, Tesfaye's studio is large and echoey*Keep up with us on instagram:Tesfaye: @tesfayeurgessaAlayo: @ablackhistoryofart @alayoakinkugbe

A conversation with Anya Paintsil, a Welsh and Ghanaian artist based in the UK. Anya creates textiles using techniques of rughooking and embroidery. She often includes human and synthetic hair as a material and has explained that she finds many similarities between the act of weaving or “doing” afro hair and textile production techniques. In this episode, Anya speaks to Alayo about her life and her practice.Keep up with us on instagram: Anya: @anyapaintsil Alayo: @ablackhistoryofart  @alayoakinkugbe"baby hair and afros": https://vortic.art/exhibitions/5288/?sceneId=3287&listview=false