Olaniyi Rasheed Akindiya [aka Akirash]
Olaniyi Rasheed Akindiya, Igbeyawo [Marriage Ceremony}, 2015
Artsy Page
Artist Statement
Olaniyi Rasheed Akindiya aka AKIRASH, was born in Lagos - Nigeria. His first degree in BIOCHEMISTRY from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta in Nigeria (1991). Later he studied Fine and Applied Art at the Institute of Textile Technology Art and Design in Lagos - Nigeria (1995). He moved to USA in 2011. He now live between Lagos - Nigeria and Pflugerville - Texas - USA.
Olaniyi is a recipient of the Otis & Velma Davis Dozier Travel Grant Award From DMA 2019, the CORE Funding from Cultural Art Division Austin 2018, The Innovative Artist Award from the Mid America Artist Alliance (MAAA / NEA) for 2017, Pollock Krasner Foundation Award 2016/17 & 2011, Cultural Initiative & Capacity Building Grant, Culture Alive from city of Austin 2016/17, the Santo Foundation grant 2015, and the Commonwealth Connection Award UK 2011.
Throughout his career, the role of residencies and interactions with other artists has been pivotal to his work. Olaniyi has been awarded residencies in the USA Residency Fellowship at International Studio and Curatorial Program NY 2016/17, Oklahoma State University Museum of Art 2015, University of Texas in Austin 2015, Santa Fe Art Institute Residency Award 2015, Mass gallery (Hot box Residency in Austin TX 2014, Centraltrak UTDallas 2013, Residency at Triangle Art Association New York 2012, residency at the Vytlacil of Art Students League New York, Residency Fellowship at Vermont studio Center 2011, Fellowship Residency at Bluesky Project Woodstock – Chicago 2008, artists in Residency at Artcroft Kentucky. Internationally, Olaniyi has been awarded residencies Art at the Heart Award 2016 & 17 in Western Australia, Sacatar Instituto Fellowship Residency Brazil 2015, Kiosko Gallery Residency in Bolivia 2014, Fellowship Residency at John Muafangejo Art Center Namibia 2013, Fellowship Residency at Nafasi Art Space Tanzania 2012, Tupelo / Bag Factory Residency South Africa 2012, Nirox Projects Space Residency Johannesburg- South Africa 2012, Residency at Gladstone Gallery Toronto - Canada 2011, Centre for contemporary Art Residency Lagos- Nigeria 2010, Thami Mnyele Foundation Amsterdam-The Netherlands 2010, and Sansa Triangle International Residency in Kumasi – Ghana 2009.
Olaniyi’s work was exhibited at the 12th edition of Dak’Art Biennale, Dakar- Senegal 2016. He also participated in Chale Wote Street Festival Accra – Ghana 2013, International Multimedia Festival Yagon-Myanmar 2012, Infecting the City Street Festival Cape Town – South Africa 2012, and the East Africa Biennale (ESTAFAB), Dar Sallam - Tanzania 2005 & 2007.
His works and writing has been featured in several publications including Important World Artists Vol 1, Hidden Treasure Art Magazine UK, Virtual Residency 2006/2007 Germany, Freedom to Create Prize 2009, ART EDUCATION (The journal of the national art education association Vol 68, No. 6) Studio Visit Magazine Vol 26 & Vol 34, Critical Interventions (journal of African Art History & Visual Culture. NOV 11). Spring 2013, Reechantments (The City in the Blue Daylight) Dak’Art 12thEdition 2016.
Artist Statement
Olaniyi Rasheed Akindiya aka AKIRASH, was born in Lagos - Nigeria. His first degree in BIOCHEMISTRY from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta in Nigeria (1991). Later he studied Fine and Applied Art at the Institute of Textile Technology Art and Design in Lagos - Nigeria (1995). He moved to USA in 2011. He now live between Lagos - Nigeria and Pflugerville - Texas - USA.
Olaniyi is a recipient of the Otis & Velma Davis Dozier Travel Grant Award From DMA 2019, the CORE Funding from Cultural Art Division Austin 2018, The Innovative Artist Award from the Mid America Artist Alliance (MAAA / NEA) for 2017, Pollock Krasner Foundation Award 2016/17 & 2011, Cultural Initiative & Capacity Building Grant, Culture Alive from city of Austin 2016/17, the Santo Foundation grant 2015, and the Commonwealth Connection Award UK 2011.
Throughout his career, the role of residencies and interactions with other artists has been pivotal to his work. Olaniyi has been awarded residencies in the USA Residency Fellowship at International Studio and Curatorial Program NY 2016/17, Oklahoma State University Museum of Art 2015, University of Texas in Austin 2015, Santa Fe Art Institute Residency Award 2015, Mass gallery (Hot box Residency in Austin TX 2014, Centraltrak UTDallas 2013, Residency at Triangle Art Association New York 2012, residency at the Vytlacil of Art Students League New York, Residency Fellowship at Vermont studio Center 2011, Fellowship Residency at Bluesky Project Woodstock – Chicago 2008, artists in Residency at Artcroft Kentucky. Internationally, Olaniyi has been awarded residencies Art at the Heart Award 2016 & 17 in Western Australia, Sacatar Instituto Fellowship Residency Brazil 2015, Kiosko Gallery Residency in Bolivia 2014, Fellowship Residency at John Muafangejo Art Center Namibia 2013, Fellowship Residency at Nafasi Art Space Tanzania 2012, Tupelo / Bag Factory Residency South Africa 2012, Nirox Projects Space Residency Johannesburg- South Africa 2012, Residency at Gladstone Gallery Toronto - Canada 2011, Centre for contemporary Art Residency Lagos- Nigeria 2010, Thami Mnyele Foundation Amsterdam-The Netherlands 2010, and Sansa Triangle International Residency in Kumasi – Ghana 2009.
Olaniyi’s work was exhibited at the 12th edition of Dak’Art Biennale, Dakar- Senegal 2016. He also participated in Chale Wote Street Festival Accra – Ghana 2013, International Multimedia Festival Yagon-Myanmar 2012, Infecting the City Street Festival Cape Town – South Africa 2012, and the East Africa Biennale (ESTAFAB), Dar Sallam - Tanzania 2005 & 2007.
His works and writing has been featured in several publications including Important World Artists Vol 1, Hidden Treasure Art Magazine UK, Virtual Residency 2006/2007 Germany, Freedom to Create Prize 2009, ART EDUCATION (The journal of the national art education association Vol 68, No. 6) Studio Visit Magazine Vol 26 & Vol 34, Critical Interventions (journal of African Art History & Visual Culture. NOV 11). Spring 2013, Reechantments (The City in the Blue Daylight) Dak’Art 12thEdition 2016.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
1992-1995 Institute of Textile; Technology, Arts & Design (ITTAD), Lagos,
Nigeria. Higher Diploma in Fine Art & Applied Art.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020
INFLATION, VISART CONCOURSE GALLERY, ROCKVILLE, MD (Forth coming Oct.)
ADITTU – PUZZLE #2, AUSTIN CENTRAL LIBRARY, AUSTIN – TEXAS, USA. (FORTH COMING July)
MAJELE - VENOMOUS #2 CARVER MUSEUM – TEXAS, USA. (FORTH COMING FEBRUARY
2019
MAJELE-VENOMOUS #1, CROSSTOWN ART, MEMPHIS – TENNESSESS - USA (FORTH COMING)
OJUSE – DUTY, RO2 ART GALLERY , DALLAS-TEXAS. USA
2018
ARA ORUN KINKIN-EGUNGUN MYTHOLOGY, LAWNDALE ART CENTER HOUSTON-TX
SASO L’OJU EGUN-BEHIND THE MASK, BIG MEDIUM/CANOPY GALLERY AUSTIN - TEXAS
2017
ARANPO / STITCH, DIMESION GALLERY AUSTIN - TEXAS, USA
ATIBABA / HERE I LIVE NOW , HARDESTY ART CENTER , TULSA-OKLAHOMA-USA
2016
WE ARE ALL BEWITCHED AT CANOPY / BIG MEDIUM GALLERY , AUSTIN- TEXAS, USA
IMOLE / LIGHT, AT EAST PILBARA ART CENTER, NEWMAN -W.AUSTRALIA
EBUN / GIFTS, RO2 ART - DALLAS TEXAS. USA
OJU INU / INSIGHT, TIKHONOVA WINTNER GALLERY, HARLEM- NY
2015
ADITTU / PUZZLES, MAC GALLERY. DALLAS –TEXAS. USA
2014
GBAJUGBAJA / CELEBRATY, AT ART CURRENTS INSTITUTE NY-USA
SHOPPING LIST, FREEDOM PARK AUSTIN TEXAS, USA
SAJE NWA? / HOW IS THE MARKET? CARVER MUSEUM, AUSTIN-TX. USA
ASHIRI / SECRET, THE MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACIEVEMENTS, AUSTIN – TEXAS, USA
Et) Et) / ENTANGLE, RO2 ART GALLERY DALLAS- TEXAS- USA
2013
AKWATA ONDJUHWA KOMULUNGU, NATIONAL ART GALLERY WINDHOEK NAMIBIA.
SIDE EFFECTS, CO-LAB PROJECTS SPACE, AUSTIN-TEXAS-USA
2012
UFAHAMU: INSIGHT, NAFASI ART SPACE, DAR ES SALAAM – TANZANIA
ABAWON: STAIN FORECOURT STATION CAPE TOWN-S.AFRICA
isiCelo: PETITION, NIROX FOUNDATION @ART ON MAIN. JOHANNESBURG- S.AFRICA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019
CONNECTIVITY, LUMINARIAN ART FESTIVAL, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, USA
PEOPLE GALLERY, CITY OF AUSTIN HALL, AUSTIN - TEXAS
2018
CHOAS, RO2ART GALLERY, DALLAS – TEXAS. USA
2017
Art Bash, Artist Alliance Austin, Native. Austin – Texas. USA
Art at the Heart, East Pilbara Art Center, Newman Western Australia
2016
RETHINK, IGNA GALLERY in ISREAL
OPEN STUDIO EXHIBITION AT SANTA FE ART INSTITUTE, SANTA FE - NM
12TH EDITION OF DAK’ART BIENNALE, DAKAR- SENEGAL
EVERYDAY REDEFINE AT CORRIDOR GALLERY, BROOKLY - NEW YORK. USA
BIRTH- REBIRTH, DIMENSION GALLERY, AUSTIN – TEXAS. USA
EVERYDAY REDEFINE AT CORRIDOR GALLERY, BROOKLY - NEW YORK. USA
BRONX: AFRICAN AT LONGWOOD ART GALLERY @ HOSTOS, BRONX-NY
2015
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE ARTISAN SERIES AT ART ON 5TH, AUSTIN –TEXAS
WAKATI (HOW TIME SHAPES AFRICA ART), OSUMA-STILLWATER-OK
AURORA NEW MEDIA EXHIBITION, DALLAS – TEXAS. USA
UMOJA/COMING TOGETHER, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, IN DALLAS TEXAS, USA
De La TIERRA, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY GALLERY in San Marcos, TEXAS. USAFUSEBOX 60 SECONDS / 60 ARTISTS, AUSTIN-TX, USA
WEST AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR / DUE WEST, AUSTIN- TEXAS, USA
DALLAS ART FAIR, DALLAS – TEXAS, USA
2014
CLOSING ECOUNTER, MASS GALLERY AUSTIN – TEXAS. USA
SOMETHING NEW-OLD-BLUE-FUNKY AT MAC – DALLAS, USA
DALLAS TRADE FAIR, DALLAS – TEXAS. USA
AMBITION, GEORGETOWN ART CENTER – TEXAS. USA
ONSITE, TEMPORARY ART PROJECTS, SOUTHEND-UK
2013
“THE STORY OF CREATIVE” SEE/ME, NEW YORK, USA
“DELTA”, MAC MEMBERSHIP EXHBITION DALLAS TEXAS, USA
“PAINT” , RO2 ART GALLERY DALLAS TEXAS. USAART CLUSTER, GIRONA - SPAIN
AUSTIN WEST STUDIO TOUR, AUSTIN-TEXAS.USA
PEOPLE GALLERY/CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN- TEXAS, USA
2012
LONDON INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE COMPETITION /EXHBITION
OPEN STUDIO AT VTLACIL CAMPUS OF THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE, NEW YORK-USA
2012 OPEN STUDIO @ TRIANGLE WORKSHOP NEW YORK.USA
Infecting the city, cape town-south Africa
PEOPLE GALLERY/CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN- TEXAS, USA
THUPELO / BAG FACTORY, JOHANNESBURG- SOUTH AFRICA
2011
ONEMINUTE VIDEO AMSTERDAM/TOWN GALLERY. EGYPT
SOVEREIGN ART FOUNDATION JAPAN, JOBURG ART FAIR SOUTH AFRICA
FAMILY UNITY OF THE WORLD “2”, the Yekaterinburg Art Fund, Moscow –Russia
FAMILY UNITY OF THE WORLD, the Yekaterinburg Art Fund, Ekaterinburg-Russia
PAUSE THE PULSE :( PORTRAIT OF ACCRA), ACC Galerie Weimar-Germany
AWARDS
2019 THE OTIS & VELMA DAVIS DOZIER TRAVEL GRANT, DMA. DALLAS – TX, USA
2017 ART AT HEART, SHIRE OF EAST PILBARA- AUSTRALIA
2017/18 ARTISTIC INNOVATION GRANT BY MAAA, KANSAS CITY - MISSOURI
2017 POLLOCK KRASNER FOUNDATION /ISCP-NY FELLOWSHIP RESIDENCY NY-USA
2016 ART AT HEART, SHIRE OF EAST PILBARA- AUSTRALIA
2011 POLLOCK-KRASNER FOUNDATION GRANT- USA
2011 COMMONWEALTH CONNECTION INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AWARD, UNITED KINGDOM
1992-1995 Institute of Textile; Technology, Arts & Design (ITTAD), Lagos,
Nigeria. Higher Diploma in Fine Art & Applied Art.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020
INFLATION, VISART CONCOURSE GALLERY, ROCKVILLE, MD (Forth coming Oct.)
ADITTU – PUZZLE #2, AUSTIN CENTRAL LIBRARY, AUSTIN – TEXAS, USA. (FORTH COMING July)
MAJELE - VENOMOUS #2 CARVER MUSEUM – TEXAS, USA. (FORTH COMING FEBRUARY
2019
MAJELE-VENOMOUS #1, CROSSTOWN ART, MEMPHIS – TENNESSESS - USA (FORTH COMING)
OJUSE – DUTY, RO2 ART GALLERY , DALLAS-TEXAS. USA
2018
ARA ORUN KINKIN-EGUNGUN MYTHOLOGY, LAWNDALE ART CENTER HOUSTON-TX
SASO L’OJU EGUN-BEHIND THE MASK, BIG MEDIUM/CANOPY GALLERY AUSTIN - TEXAS
2017
ARANPO / STITCH, DIMESION GALLERY AUSTIN - TEXAS, USA
ATIBABA / HERE I LIVE NOW , HARDESTY ART CENTER , TULSA-OKLAHOMA-USA
2016
WE ARE ALL BEWITCHED AT CANOPY / BIG MEDIUM GALLERY , AUSTIN- TEXAS, USA
IMOLE / LIGHT, AT EAST PILBARA ART CENTER, NEWMAN -W.AUSTRALIA
EBUN / GIFTS, RO2 ART - DALLAS TEXAS. USA
OJU INU / INSIGHT, TIKHONOVA WINTNER GALLERY, HARLEM- NY
2015
ADITTU / PUZZLES, MAC GALLERY. DALLAS –TEXAS. USA
2014
GBAJUGBAJA / CELEBRATY, AT ART CURRENTS INSTITUTE NY-USA
SHOPPING LIST, FREEDOM PARK AUSTIN TEXAS, USA
SAJE NWA? / HOW IS THE MARKET? CARVER MUSEUM, AUSTIN-TX. USA
ASHIRI / SECRET, THE MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACIEVEMENTS, AUSTIN – TEXAS, USA
Et) Et) / ENTANGLE, RO2 ART GALLERY DALLAS- TEXAS- USA
2013
AKWATA ONDJUHWA KOMULUNGU, NATIONAL ART GALLERY WINDHOEK NAMIBIA.
SIDE EFFECTS, CO-LAB PROJECTS SPACE, AUSTIN-TEXAS-USA
2012
UFAHAMU: INSIGHT, NAFASI ART SPACE, DAR ES SALAAM – TANZANIA
ABAWON: STAIN FORECOURT STATION CAPE TOWN-S.AFRICA
isiCelo: PETITION, NIROX FOUNDATION @ART ON MAIN. JOHANNESBURG- S.AFRICA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019
CONNECTIVITY, LUMINARIAN ART FESTIVAL, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, USA
PEOPLE GALLERY, CITY OF AUSTIN HALL, AUSTIN - TEXAS
2018
CHOAS, RO2ART GALLERY, DALLAS – TEXAS. USA
2017
Art Bash, Artist Alliance Austin, Native. Austin – Texas. USA
Art at the Heart, East Pilbara Art Center, Newman Western Australia
2016
RETHINK, IGNA GALLERY in ISREAL
OPEN STUDIO EXHIBITION AT SANTA FE ART INSTITUTE, SANTA FE - NM
12TH EDITION OF DAK’ART BIENNALE, DAKAR- SENEGAL
EVERYDAY REDEFINE AT CORRIDOR GALLERY, BROOKLY - NEW YORK. USA
BIRTH- REBIRTH, DIMENSION GALLERY, AUSTIN – TEXAS. USA
EVERYDAY REDEFINE AT CORRIDOR GALLERY, BROOKLY - NEW YORK. USA
BRONX: AFRICAN AT LONGWOOD ART GALLERY @ HOSTOS, BRONX-NY
2015
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE ARTISAN SERIES AT ART ON 5TH, AUSTIN –TEXAS
WAKATI (HOW TIME SHAPES AFRICA ART), OSUMA-STILLWATER-OK
AURORA NEW MEDIA EXHIBITION, DALLAS – TEXAS. USA
UMOJA/COMING TOGETHER, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, IN DALLAS TEXAS, USA
De La TIERRA, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY GALLERY in San Marcos, TEXAS. USAFUSEBOX 60 SECONDS / 60 ARTISTS, AUSTIN-TX, USA
WEST AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR / DUE WEST, AUSTIN- TEXAS, USA
DALLAS ART FAIR, DALLAS – TEXAS, USA
2014
CLOSING ECOUNTER, MASS GALLERY AUSTIN – TEXAS. USA
SOMETHING NEW-OLD-BLUE-FUNKY AT MAC – DALLAS, USA
DALLAS TRADE FAIR, DALLAS – TEXAS. USA
AMBITION, GEORGETOWN ART CENTER – TEXAS. USA
ONSITE, TEMPORARY ART PROJECTS, SOUTHEND-UK
2013
“THE STORY OF CREATIVE” SEE/ME, NEW YORK, USA
“DELTA”, MAC MEMBERSHIP EXHBITION DALLAS TEXAS, USA
“PAINT” , RO2 ART GALLERY DALLAS TEXAS. USAART CLUSTER, GIRONA - SPAIN
AUSTIN WEST STUDIO TOUR, AUSTIN-TEXAS.USA
PEOPLE GALLERY/CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN- TEXAS, USA
2012
LONDON INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE COMPETITION /EXHBITION
OPEN STUDIO AT VTLACIL CAMPUS OF THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE, NEW YORK-USA
2012 OPEN STUDIO @ TRIANGLE WORKSHOP NEW YORK.USA
Infecting the city, cape town-south Africa
PEOPLE GALLERY/CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN- TEXAS, USA
THUPELO / BAG FACTORY, JOHANNESBURG- SOUTH AFRICA
2011
ONEMINUTE VIDEO AMSTERDAM/TOWN GALLERY. EGYPT
SOVEREIGN ART FOUNDATION JAPAN, JOBURG ART FAIR SOUTH AFRICA
FAMILY UNITY OF THE WORLD “2”, the Yekaterinburg Art Fund, Moscow –Russia
FAMILY UNITY OF THE WORLD, the Yekaterinburg Art Fund, Ekaterinburg-Russia
PAUSE THE PULSE :( PORTRAIT OF ACCRA), ACC Galerie Weimar-Germany
AWARDS
2019 THE OTIS & VELMA DAVIS DOZIER TRAVEL GRANT, DMA. DALLAS – TX, USA
2017 ART AT HEART, SHIRE OF EAST PILBARA- AUSTRALIA
2017/18 ARTISTIC INNOVATION GRANT BY MAAA, KANSAS CITY - MISSOURI
2017 POLLOCK KRASNER FOUNDATION /ISCP-NY FELLOWSHIP RESIDENCY NY-USA
2016 ART AT HEART, SHIRE OF EAST PILBARA- AUSTRALIA
2011 POLLOCK-KRASNER FOUNDATION GRANT- USA
2011 COMMONWEALTH CONNECTION INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AWARD, UNITED KINGDOM
