Adeshola Makinde’s (b. 1990, Chicago) multidisciplinary practice is deeply influenced by his experience attending predominantly white schools in the Chicagoland suburbs. In those spaces, cultural and educational narratives existed in stark contrast to that of his Nigerian-American upbringing. Makinde’s first-hand experience of institutional neglect fueled his independent exploration Black consciousness through art and archive.

Today, Makinde’s practice utilizes imagery from publications like Ebony and Jet to highlight and challenge racial inequities. His work aims to initiate necessary conversations around identity-building, particularly in the context of Black life in America.