About
Adeyemi Adegbesan is a Toronto-based multi-disciplinary artist whose practice aims to examine the intersectionality of Black identity. Reflecting on Black cultural ideologies from pre-colonial, colonial, present day and future timelines; across regions, religions, varying levels of income and political lines, Adegbesan examines the dichotomy of the richness of Black experiences with the imposed societal homogeneity of ‘Blackness’. Through his work Adegbesan pulls from these varying elements to create Afro-futuristic portraits that embody themes of history, fantasy, speculative futures, and spirituality.
Adeyemi is a self-taught artist whose practice incorporates photography, mixed media collage, murals and assemblage. He works out of his studio in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighborhood and has shown work in Canada and the United States. He has also worked with brands such as HBO, Instagram, and the Toronto Raptors on commercial collaborations.
Exhibitions
2024 A Dream of Return (group show) | Carleton University Art Gallery | Ottawa, ON
2024 Hunt, Gather, Remix | Robert Langen Gallery | Waterloo, ON
2022 Adorned (group show) | Art Gallery of Greater Victoria | Victoria, BC
2022 In These Truths (group show) | Albright-Knox Northland Museum | Buffalo, NY
2020 Ascension Tech | Harbourfront Centre | Toronto, ON
2019 1000 Paths Home | Union Station | Toronto, ON
2019 Holding Space | Project (Patel) Gallery | Toronto, ON
2018-19 Art, Beats & Lyrics (group show) | various venues | Richmond, VA; Birmingham, AL; Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MS; Houston, TX; Miami, FL; Charlotte, NC; Louisville, KY;
2018 Manifesto Art Show (group show) | 146 Ossington | Toronto, ON
2016 Sawubona (group show) | Daniels Spectrum | Toronto, ON
2015 Black Future Month: 3015 (group show) | OCAD University | Toronto, ON
2014 Black Future Month: 3014 (group show) | Daniels Spectrum | Toronto, ON
Commissions and Public Art
2024 Junos/ONX/The Space Between Us | I feel it (That’s How I Know They Will Feel It), VR Installation | Halifax, NS
2023 Translink Public Art Initiative | Look For Us In The Whirlwind | Vancouver, BC
2022 Nuit Blanche | Those Who Watch Over Us | Toronto, ON
2022 Buffalo AKG Art Museum: Public Art Initiative | Queen City Mural | Toronto, ON
2021 ArtworxTO Hub North | AllCity Shine Mural | Toronto, ON
2021 Toronto History Museums: Awakenings | Luminary: Mary Ann Shadd Mural | Toronto, ON
2020 Nuit Blanche | Virtual (AR) installation | Toronto, ON
2020 Artscape Launchpad | Black Lives Matter Wall Mural | Toronto, ON
2020 HBO | Virtual (VR) experience | Toronto, ON
2020 Toronto Raptors | Black Lives Matter branding and apparel design | Toronto, ON
2020 Erykah Badu | Illustration | Dallas, TX
2019 Instagram | Afropunk Festival Virtual (AR) installation | Brooklyn, NY; Atlanta, GA
2018 Lauryn Hill | Branding and apparel design | New York, NY
Collaborations
Afropunk
Toronto Raptors
Random House Books
Utopia Falls
Haviah Mighty
Lauryn Hill
Obuxum
HarperCollins
a l l i e
Uninterrupted