John Akomfrah
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John Akomfrah #1,536Mid-Career

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Selected Works21

Museum Acquisitions

MoMA
NGA Washington
NGA Washington
SFMOMA
LACMA
Pompidou
MCA Chicago
Phillips Collection
Nasher Museum of Art

For Sale 12

Lisson Gallery · Artsy
The Monuments of Being
The Monuments of Being, 2021
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Giclee Print, Gold, Text
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
Peripeteia
Peripeteia, 2012
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Single channel HD colour video, 5.1 sound
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
The Wounding Light 4
The Wounding Light 4, 2023
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Giclee print
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
My Body Is The Monument
My Body Is The Monument, 2021
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Giclee Print, Text
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
The Wounding Light 6
The Wounding Light 6, 2023
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Giclee print
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
The Wounding Light 5
The Wounding Light 5, 2023
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Giclee print
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
The Monuments of Being
The Monuments of Being, 2021
Inquire about availability
Giclee Print, Gold, Text
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
The Monuments of Being
The Monuments of Being, 2021
Inquire about availability
Giclee Print, Gold, Text
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
The Monuments of Being
The Monuments of Being, 2021
Inquire about availability
Giclee Print, Gold, Text
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
Listening All Night To The Rain (Canto VI)
Listening All Night To The Rain (Canto VI), 2024
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8 channel HD video installation with surround sound
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
All That Is Solid
All That Is Solid, 2015
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Single channel HD colour video, 5.1 sound
Lisson Gallery · Artsy
Transfigured Night
Transfigured Night, 2013
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Two channel HD colour video installation, 5.1 sound
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Galleries1

#6 Lisson Gallery
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Prizes & Awards1

Artes Mundi
Winner 2017
podcasts

Podcast Interviews6

podcasts No. 762: John Akomfrah The Modern Art Notes Podcast · Jun 11, 2026
Episode No. 762 of The Modern Art Notes Podcast features artist John Akomfrah. The Menil Collection, Houston is showing “John Akomfrah: The Hour of The Dog” through October 11. The work, co-commissioned by the Menil and …
 podcasts John Akomfrah and Tarini Malik, presented by Burberry - Season 21 - Episode 4 Talk Art · Apr 19, 2024
Talk Art live at the Venice Biennale, presented by Burberry. Recorded at the St Regis Library, we meet leading artist Sir John Akomfrah CBE RA and Tarini Malik, the curator of the British pavilion 2024. The British Counc…
 podcasts A brush with... John Akomfrah A brush with... · Oct 5, 2022
An in-depth interview with the artist on his cultural experiences and greatest influences, from Jackson Pollock to Virginia Woolf
 podcasts More Than Human: Anicka Yi & John Akomfrah CHANEL Connects · Jun 10, 2022
Artist Anicka Li expands the boundaries of art with work that explores biology, technology, and the merging of the two. Anicka connects with pioneering artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah whose latest film was described b…
 podcasts No. 339: John Akomfrah The Modern Art Notes Podcast · May 3, 2018
Episode No. 339 of The Modern Art Notes Podcast features artist John Akomfrah. The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is presenting John Akomfrah’s three-channel video installation Precarity (2017-18), a work that i…
 podcasts No. 332: Fazal Sheikh, John Akomfrah The Modern Art Notes Podcast · Mar 15, 2018
Episode No. 332 of The Modern Art Notes Podcast features artists Fazal Sheikh and John Akomfrah. The Portland (Ore.) Art Museum is exhibiting “Common Ground: Photographs by Fazal Sheikh, 1989-2013,” a 25-year survey of F…
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Biennial Selections2

Venice Biennale — Venice
2024 · Foreigners Everywhere · curated by Adriano Pedrosa
Sharjah Biennial — Sharjah
2023 · Thinking Historically in the Present · curated by Hoor Al Qasimi
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Education2

Goldsmiths, University of London
London, UK
Portsmouth University
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Publications1

Survey 1

Vitamin V: Video and the Moving Image in Contemporary Art
Phaidon Press · 2025
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Current Exhibitions1

#2,008 Serpentine Galleries

John Akomfrah: Listening All Night To The Rain

John Akomfrah

London W2 3XA, UK

May 16, 2026 — Aug 14, 2026

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Upcoming2

#2,008 Serpentine Galleries

John Akomfrah: Listening All N...

John Akomfrah

London W2 3XA, UK

Sep 18, 2026 — Dec 17, 2026

DetailsWebsite

#6,125 Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA)

John Akomfrah: Listening All Night To The Rain

John Akomfrah

152 Nethergate, Dundee DD1 4EA, UK

Dec 5, 2026 — Mar 21, 2027

DetailsWebsite
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Recent News20

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The free museum tucked away in a Houston park showcases masterpieces by Picasso, Warhol, and Magritte
The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas, is a free museum located on a 30-acre park-like campus in the Montrose neighborhood. Founded by French philant…
localJun 10, 2026
As the Country Turns 250, Why Won’t Its Museums Meet the Moment?
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, the official America 250 (A250) commission has been taken over by a MAGA-aligned events…
cultureJun 7, 2026
Sir John Akomfrah’s Venice Biennale Exhibition Comes To Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery
Sir John Akomfrah's exhibition, originally presented at the Venice Biennale, is now on view at Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery. The show brings togethe…
exhibitionsMay 24, 2026
UAE art guide: 11 museum and gallery exhibitions to see, from Picasso to the Baghdad Modern Art Group
The article presents a guide to 11 current museum and gallery exhibitions across the UAE, following the conclusion of Art Dubai 2026. Highlights inclu…
exhibitionsMay 22, 2026
In Vancouver, artists imagine life after climate change
The Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) has opened 'Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change,' an exhibition curated by Eva Respini that bring…
exhibitionsMay 21, 2026
Why our country needs the artist Lubaina Himid right now: "I had to figure out how to represent Britain"
Lubaina Himid has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Venice Biennale, taking over the British Pavilion. The announcement came just before…
peopleMay 7, 2026
‘We put our heads above the parapet’: Lubaina Himid on winning her 40-year battle to storm the Venice Biennale
Lubaina Himid, the 71-year-old British artist, is representing Britain at the Venice Biennale with a solo exhibition in the British Pavilion. Known fo…
exhibitionsMay 5, 2026
Appropriation Culture: Richard Prince and Arthur Jafa
An upcoming exhibition at ArtReview pairs artists Richard Prince and Arthur Jafa to explore the ethics and aesthetics of image appropriation. Jafa's w…
exhibitionsApr 27, 2026
UAE art guide: 13 museum and gallery exhibitions to see, from Picasso to Chilean artist Jorge Tacla
The article presents a curated guide to 13 current museum and gallery exhibitions across the UAE, including shows at Louvre Abu Dhabi, Foundry in Duba…
exhibitionsApr 24, 2026
UAE art guide: 12 museum and gallery exhibitions to see, including Gallery Isabelle's 20th anniversary show
The UAE art scene is currently hosting a diverse array of exhibitions across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, despite regional disruptions. Key highligh…
exhibitionsApr 10, 2026
Open call for nominations: exhibition and prize
Artes Mundi has officially opened nominations for its 12th edition, inviting the global art community to propose artists for the prestigious biennial …
newsApr 7, 2026
Two Thousand Seasons: A Conversation
The African Film Institute at e-flux launched its 2026 program with an event titled "Two Thousand Seasons: A Look Into 2026 and Beyond." The evening f…
eventsMar 30, 2026
Paint Drippings: Art Industry News February 23
This week’s art industry roundup highlights major shifts across the global market, including Art Basel’s announcement of 290 galleries for its flagshi…
newsFeb 23, 2026
open letter support barbican director devyani saltzman
Over 250 prominent cultural figures have signed an open letter protesting the abrupt departure of Devyani Saltzman from her role as Director of Arts a…
policyFeb 20, 2026
art what to see in nyc galleries right now 2
This week's What's On column highlights must-see gallery shows in New York City, including Simone Fattal's bronze and ceramic works at Greene Naftali …
exhibitionsFeb 18, 2026
New York Galleries: Openings and Closings (02/09-02/15)
A comprehensive list of gallery exhibitions opening and closing in New York City for the week of February 9-15, 2026, has been published. The schedule…
exhibitionsFeb 9, 2026
Exhibitions Coming to Houston Area Art Venues In Spring 2026
A comprehensive guide details spring 2026 exhibitions at Houston-area art venues, including Blaffer Art Museum, Galveston Arts Center, Museum of Fine …
exhibitionsDec 18, 2025
Artes Mundi 11 Prize and Exhibition
The six artists shortlisted for the 2025 Artes Mundi 11 prize present works addressing displacement, colonial trauma, and migration amid divisive glob…
exhibitionsNov 17, 2025
condo moves from hauser wirth to spruth magers and skarstedt was j m w turner neurodivergent trump squeezes arts talent pool morning link for november 10 2025
Artist George Condo has left Hauser & Wirth and will now be jointly represented by Sprüth Magers and Skarstedt, marking a return to galleries with whi…
newsNov 10, 2025
Alexander Morrison
Alexander Morrison, a prominent figure in the art world, has passed away. The article, published by The Art Newspaper, reports on his death and likely…
obituaryOct 13, 2025
history

Past Exhibitions15

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Byzantine Fresco Chapel

John Akomfrah: The Hour Of The Dog

John Akomfrah

4011 Yupon St, Houston, TX 77006, USA

Jan 1, 2026

John Akomfrah: The Hour Of The Dog April 24–October 11, 2026 Main Building

Details

Menil Collection

John Akomfrah: The Hour Of The Dog

John Akomfrah

1533 Sul Ross St, Houston, TX 77006, USA

Jan 1, 2026

John Akomfrah: The Hour Of The Dog April 24–October 11, 2026 Main Building

Details

Smithsonian Institution

John Akomfrah: Five Murmurations

John Akomfrah

Oct 14, 2023 — Aug 24, 2025

John Akomfrah: Five Murmurations Five Mumurations considers Akomfrah’s insights into post-colonialism, diasporic experience, and memory. October 14, 2023 – A...

Details

Smithsonian Institution

John Akomfrah: Five Murmurations

John Akomfrah

Oct 14, 2023 — Aug 24, 2025

John Akomfrah: Five Murmurations Five Mumurations considers Akomfrah’s insights into post-colonialism, diasporic experience, and memory. October 14, 2023 – A...

Details

#6 Lisson Gallery

John Akomfrah: The Airport

John Akomfrah

May 27, 2023 — Aug 25, 2023

Details

Remai Modern

John Akomfrah: Vertigo Sea

John Akomfrah

102 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0L3, Canada

Mar 2, 2022 — Jun 19, 2022

March 2, 2022 – June 19, 2022 John Akomfrah: Vertigo Sea John Akomfrah: Vertigo Sea John Akomfrah’s three-channel video installation Vertigo Sea (2015) immer...

Details

#6 Lisson Gallery

John Akomfrah: Five Murmurations

John Akomfrah

508 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011, United States

Sep 9, 2021 — Oct 16, 2021

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#6 Lisson Gallery

John Akomfrah: The Unintended Beauty of Disaster

John Akomfrah

27 Bell St, London NW1 5BY, United Kingdom

Apr 13, 2021 — Jul 10, 2021

Details

Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston

John Akomfrah: Purple

John Akomfrah

25 Harbor Shore Dr, Boston, MA 02210, USA

Jan 1, 2019

John Akomfrah: Purple May 26 – Sep 2, 2019 Co-commissioned by the ICA and making its U.S. premiere at the ICA Watershed, Purple is an immersive six-channel v...

Details

Leopold Museum

THE CONUNDRUM OF IMAGINATION

John Akomfrah, Jean-Pierre Bekolo, Filipa César, Ines Doujak, John Barker, Marco Montiel-Soto, Viron Erol Vert, Mathieu Kleyebe Abonnenc, Dineo Seshee Bopape, Ahmet Öğüt, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Melanie Bonajo

Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Wien, Austria

Jan 1, 2017

THE CONUNDRUM OF IMAGINATION On the paradigm of exploration and discovery 19th May to 18th June 2017

Details

Smithsonian Institution

John Akomfrah: Purple

John Akomfrah

Jan 1, 2017

John Akomfrah: Purple An enveloping, hour-long symphony of image and sound, Purple (2017) weaves together original film with archival footage against a hypno...

Details

Smithsonian Institution

John Akomfrah: Purple

John Akomfrah

Jan 1, 2017

John Akomfrah: Purple An enveloping, hour-long symphony of image and sound, Purple (2017) weaves together original film with archival footage against a hypno...

Details

Rose Art Museum

Rose Video 11: John Akomfrah

John Akomfrah

415 South St, Waltham, MA 02453, USA

Jan 1, 2017

John Akomfrah — 2017

Details

Pérez Art Museum Miami

John Akomfrah: Tropikos

John Akomfrah

1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, USA

Jan 1, 2017

Feb. 24 – Sept. 17, 2017 John Akomfrah: Tropikos

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#6 Lisson Gallery

John Akomfrah

John Akomfrah

508 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011, United States

Jun 24, 2016 — Aug 12, 2016

Details
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Recent Activity20

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Exhibition
John Akomfrah: Five Murmurations
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
John Akomfrah: Listening All Night To The Rain
Dec 5, 2026
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
John Akomfrah: Listening All N...
Sep 18, 2026
newspaper
News
Sir John Akomfrah’s Venice Biennale Exhibition Comes To Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery
May 24, 2026
newspaper
News
UAE art guide: 11 museum and gallery exhibitions to see, from Picasso to the Baghdad Modern Art Group
May 22, 2026
newspaper
News
In Vancouver, artists imagine life after climate change
May 21, 2026
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
John Akomfrah: Listening All Night To The Rain
May 16, 2026
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
John Akomfrah: Listening All Night To The Rain
May 16, 2026
newspaper
News
Why our country needs the artist Lubaina Himid right now: "I had to figure out how to represent Britain"
May 7, 2026
newspaper
News
‘We put our heads above the parapet’: Lubaina Himid on winning her 40-year battle to storm the Venice Biennale
May 5, 2026
newspaper
News
Appropriation Culture: Richard Prince and Arthur Jafa
Apr 27, 2026
newspaper
News
UAE art guide: 13 museum and gallery exhibitions to see, from Picasso to Chilean artist Jorge Tacla
Apr 24, 2026
newspaper
News
UAE art guide: 12 museum and gallery exhibitions to see, including Gallery Isabelle's 20th anniversary show
Apr 10, 2026
newspaper
News
Open call for nominations: exhibition and prize
Apr 7, 2026
newspaper
News
Two Thousand Seasons: A Conversation
Mar 30, 2026
newspaper
News
paint drippings art industry news feb 23
Feb 23, 2026
newspaper
News
open letter support barbican director devyani saltzman
Feb 20, 2026
newspaper
News
art what to see in nyc galleries right now 2
Feb 18, 2026
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Exhibition
John Akomfrah: Listening All Night To The Rain
Feb 11, 2026
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
John Akomfrah: Listening All Night To The Rain
Feb 11, 2026
newspaper

Related News5

exhibitions Frieze announces almost 300 galleries to take part in its 2026 London fairs. Artsy Editorial / Jun 11, 2026 people The Dealers: Rajiv Menon Connects Cultures Contemporary Art Review LA / Jun 9, 2026 exhibitions Riverside Gallery presents Keunhee Park: MAZE NewJerseyStage.com / Jun 14, 2026 exhibitions Exhibition Tour: "Shared Ground" and "Community and Exile" New Hampshire Public Radio / Jun 14, 2026 exhibitions In Basel there is an anti-system art fair that stays open until 3 in the morning Artribune / Jun 14, 2026