Nigerian-born multidisciplinary artist Mayowa Akande is redefining visual storytelling through a practice that bridges architecture, photography, and design. His work transforms everyday encounters into quiet reflections on identity, belonging, and the spaces we inhabit — physically, emotionally, and culturally.
“Architecture taught me how to see; photography taught me how to feel what I see,” Akande says.
That insight encapsulates his creative philosophy — a harmony between structure and sensitivity.
Akande’s journey into photography began during his Master’s degree in Architecture at the School of Architecture, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso , where a curiosity about the camera evolved into a lifelong pursuit. As he travelled, observed, and documented the rhythms of everyday life, he discovered how art, architecture, and human stories intertwine to shape how we perceive our world.
“I realised that architecture and photography are both about light — one builds with it, the other captures it,” he recalls. “Both ask how space makes us feel, how we remember, and how we belong.”
Among Akande’s celebrated projects is “Somewhere in Between — A Portrait Series of Ladé” which explores migration, identity, and the edges of belonging . The work presents Ladé not as a single subject, but as a vessel of shared experience — representing African immigrants navigating life between cultures and versions of self. One of the portraits, awash in deep blue tones, reflects both vulnerability and strength — a meditation on resilience amid displacement. The project earned a Merit Award in AAP Magazine #51: COLORS (France, 2025) , where Akande was selected as one of only 25 photographers worldwide.
Echoes of Becoming
In his latest work, “Echoes of Becoming,” Akande deepens this dialogue. The black-and-white series follows a young Black man dressed in agbada and traditional cap, moving through terrains of grass, rock, and water — a metaphor for migration and renewal. Exhibited at the FaB Festival and 44AD Artspace in Bath , the project received a Highly Commended Award at the Bath Open Art Prize 2025 .
“Presenting this work publicly for the first time was both humbling and affirming,” he said. “It reaffirmed my belief in the quiet power of photography to bridge cultures and tell shared stories.”
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For Akande, ‘Echoes of Becoming’ is a meditation on culture, displacement, and identity — “portraits not just of a body or face, but of a journey grounded in culture, alive with possibility, and unafraid of what lies beyond.”
Spaces and Crossroads
As an artist with a documentary eye, Akande also captures the transformation of cities and spaces. His photographic work “Between Heritage and Horizons” examines the evolving identity of Sunderland , juxtaposing historic landmarks such as the Wearmouth and Queen Alexandra bridges with new city developments. Rendered in black and white, the work strips away distraction, revealing the tension and harmony between heritage and modernity.
Likewise, “Resonance,” exhibited at The Fronteer Open 2025 in Sheffield, merges Lagos (Nigeria) and the North East of England through digital collage. The work reflects how identity adapts across geography — rooted in tradition yet open to transformation.
This year, Akande’s work has also featured at the Sunderland Art Festival (October 2025) and the BlackBox Gallery, Portland, USA , further establishing his growing international profile.
Architecture as Language
Grounded in his architectural training, Akande’s practice investigates how people inhabit space — physical, emotional, and cultural — using photography as a language to question how place shapes identity. Beyond his studio, he contributes to the UK’s cultural ecosystem as a volunteer at the Northern Museum.
Akande represents a new generation of African creatives redefining how migration, belonging, and identity are portrayed in global visual culture. His images invite reflection rather than spectacle, drawing viewers into the emotional architecture of lived experience.
Looking Ahead
Building on this foundation, Akande is now exploring the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) into his visual practice. His goal is to create immersive cultural archives that allow audiences to experience layered stories of migration, heritage, and belonging in new, interactive ways. Alongside this, he plans to mentor emerging artists and document the evolving artistic expressions of the UK’s diverse communities — fostering collaboration, inclusion, and innovation.
Through this blend of artistry, empathy, and technological curiosity, Akande continues to build a visual language that transcends borders — one that speaks to the shared human search for connection and home.
