As we near the close of another dynamic year filled with programming and residencies, we’re thrilled to share upcoming and current exhibitions and presentations by our alumni. By the end of 2024, the Foundation will have hosted 71 residents since programming launched in May 2022, and we’re excited to continue following the inspiring journeys of those who have participated in a residency at G.A.S.
Evan Ifekoya Restages A Score, A Groove, A Phantom, A Rukus! at Somerset House
Evan Ifekoya was commissioned to restage their work, A Score, A Groove, A Phantom, A Rukus!—an interactive installation designed to immerse visitors in a vibrant, club-like environment as part of Making a Rukus!, an exhibition curated by artist, filmmaker, and rukus! federation co-founder Topher Campbell. The show delves into the rich tapestry of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans creativity, activism, and community, spotlighting pride through a compelling blend of archival materials, contemporary artworks, and newly commissioned pieces. Now in it’s final weeks at Somerset House in London, Making a Rukus! celebrates the groundbreaking contributions of Black LGBTQ+ pioneers and artists from the 1970s to the present day.
Evan and fellow G.A.S. alumni Nolan Oswald Dennis are also amongst the 11 artists from the African Diaspora featured in Black Ancient Futures, an exhibition at MAAT, Lisbon. Bringing together diverse voices—some presented in Portugal for the first time—the exhibition explores alternative narratives and landscapes that challenge dominant perspectives in contemporary art.
A Score, A Groove, A Phantom, A Rukus! installation view. Photographed by Tim Bowditch.
Nolan Oswald Dennis to Present First UK Solo Exhibition at Gasworks, London
In November 2024, Gasworks, London, announced the first UK solo exhibition by Nolan Oswald Dennis, a G.A.S. alumnus from 2023 and 2024. Nolan’s multidisciplinary practice investigates the politics of space and time through a system-focused, rather than site-specific, lens. The exhibition will feature both new and existing works, delving into the intersections of geology and cosmology. A highlight will be a new iteration of the Black Earth Study Club, developed in collaboration with local artists, writers, and researchers. The exhibition opens on 23 April 2025, with a preview on 22 April 2025.
Nolan Oswald Dennis, no conciliation is possible, 2018 – ongoing. Wallpaper, archival notes, hand-drawn notes, found objects and pencil drawings. Photo: Anders Sune Berg. Courtesy of the artist and ARoS Art Museum.
Portia Zvavahera’s Zvakazarurwa Opens at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge
In October, Zvakazarurwa by Portia Zvavahera opened at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, marking the artist's first solo exhibition at a public gallery in Europe. Featuring a selection of new and recent paintings, the exhibition draws on a rich blend of southern African culture, Christian iconography, traditional European painting, and African printmaking. The works are deeply informed by Zvavahera’s personal dreams and the spiritual traditions of her childhood. These semi-autobiographical pieces incorporate vibrant layers of colour and texture, using diverse techniques such as batik stencilling, block-printing, drawing, and ink painting.
The exhibition is organised by Kettle’s Yard in collaboration with the Fruitmarket, Edinburgh, where it will be on view from 1 March to 25 May 2025. It is curated by Tamar Garb, Durning Lawrence Professor in the History of Art at University College London.
Installation view, Portia Zvavahera: Zvakazarurwa, Kettle’s Yard, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, 2024. Photo by Jo Underhill.
Dawit L. Petros to Feature in the 13th Edition of the Liverpool Biennial
In November 2024, the Liverpool Biennial announced its theme and participating artists for 2025. G.A.S. alumnus Dawit L. Petros will be among those featured in the 13th edition of the Biennial, which runs from 7th June to 14th September 2025.
Curated by Marie-Anne McQuay, the theme and title of the 2025 Liverpool Biennial, BEDROCK, draw inspiration from the city's unique geography, particularly its iconic sandstone, which shapes both its architecture and social foundations. The exhibition will explore BEDROCK as a metaphor, reflecting on the people, places, and values that anchor Liverpool—and, by extension, all of us. A diverse group of artists, including Dawit L. Petros, will engage with this concept, fostering a dynamic dialogue around the city’s social and physical landscape.
Belinda Kazeem Kamiński Reflects on Her Homecoming Residency in Irè T’ónlọ Lọ́wọ́ (Blessings, ongoing)
In September 2023, Belinda Kazeem-Kamiński (b. 1980, Vienna) arrived in Lagos to begin her research-focused residency at G.A.S. Foundation after receiving the inaugural Access ART X Prize in the category Nigeria/Diaspora. This residency marked a significant moment in her artistic practice, as Lagos's vibrant, kinetic energy brought Belinda Kazeem-Kamiński closer to the traditions of Yoruba cosmology and language as well as West African studio photography.
One year later, from 31 October—19 December, in her solo at Galerie Wonnerth Dejaco, she reflects on her journey of return and renewal in Irè T’ónlọ Lọ́wọ́ (Blessings, ongoing). This exhibition showcases analogue and digital photographs that explore her use of photography as a tool for reconnecting with residual memory. Presented in a setting reminiscent of a West African studio space, Irè T’ónlọ Lọ́wọ́ (Blessings, ongoing) features parts of her creative process, including elements of a West African studio darkroom, a research wall that contextualizes her research, and a curated playlist of selected tunes that guided her throughout the process. Woven from an interplay of movement, stillness, tradition, and innovation, this body of work stands as a testament to Belinda Kazeem-Kamiński’s profound encounter with what Okwui Enwezor refers to as “the routes and roots” of life, embracing both the blessings of the past and the promise of new beginnings.
Instllation image, Irè T’ónlọ Lọ́wọ́, 2023.