Ayobola Kekere-Ekun

Ayobola Kekere-Ekun (b. 1993) is a contemporary visual artist. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Her B.A. and M.A. in Visual Arts were received from the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos, where she majored in Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Art and Design at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Kekere-Ekun works predominantly with a technique known as quilling, in which strips of paper are individually shaped to create forms. Her work is heavily informed by personal experiences and observations. She is particularly interested in subjects connected to gender, mythology, memory, and trauma. 

Kekere-Ekun’s work has been exhibited in several fairs and exhibitions all over the world, including Latitudes Art Fair Johannesburg (2024), Arte Fiera, Bologna (2023), and SCOPE Miami Beach (2021). Her first solo exhibition in 2019, “Resilient Lines” at Rele Gallery, was supported by a grant awarded by the Dean Collection, a contemporary art collection created by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean). Kekere-Ekun was also a recipient of the ABSA L'Atelier Award in 2021.