When Cambridge Art History student Alayo Akinkugbe created her @ablackhistoryofart Instagram account, she was responding to her own “frustration at the lack of Black representation” in her degree. The account highlights overlooked black artists, sitters, curators and thinkers, from art history and the present day.
In July 2021 we were excited to welcome Alayo to Modern Art Oxford to meet artist Samson Kambalu in his major solo exhibition, New Liberia. In the pair’s fascinating conversation, they discuss topics including the under acknowledged African revolutionary John Chilembwe, the ‘Dandy Bubblegum’ of Samson’s childhood and the state of art education.
Follow Alayo’s project on Instagram here.