Jesse Akele (b.1995, London, UK) lives and works in London. Akele’s work explores the intersections of identity and lived experience, drawing on the energies of family, friends, and everyday encounters. Through fluid abstraction and fragmented figuration, she seeks a deeper understanding of self, others, and the spaces they inhabit. With a practice rooted in storytelling Akele’s work reflects how individuals are shaped by their environments, often unconsciously. She is particularly drawn to the intangible imprints of place, memory, and relationship, using painting to give form to these invisible yet enduring connections.
Akele received her MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art in 2023. Recent exhibitions include 54 (what now?), PM/AM, London, UK (2024); Curated Selection of Emerging Black Female Artists, DADA Gallery, London, UK (2024); lbf @ The Lake, Muskoka, Canada (2024); Like a beacon against the cold, lbf, London, UK (2024); Link me at the sound system, Harlesden High Street, London, UK (2023); 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair with Dada Gallery, London, UK; Layered Textures, Dada Gallery, London, UK (2023); BUFFER 2, Guts Gallery, London, UK (2023).
Akele was awarded the Basil H. Alkazzi Scholarship to study on the MA Painting programme in 2023 at the Royal College of Art where she was shortlisted for the Chadwell Award. Her work is included in the Royal College of Art Collection.
