Paper Collage, 11 x 14 in
In the work of Adeshola Makinde, there is a striking energy that fuses the immediacy of advertising’s visual language with a reclamation of Black cultural identity. Through the interplay of bold, declarative text and archival imagery, his collages transform everyday ephemera into profound statements of joy, resilience, and empowerment. The compositions oscillate between critique and celebration, weaving together themes of heritage, aspiration, and self-determination.
Paper Collage, 18 x 24 in
My approach to art is inherently inspired by my Nigerian heritage and my upbringing in predominantly white spaces. Black history isn’t something that I really learned in those spaces growing up, so it’s been a mission for me to share the things that I learn on my journey of Black consciousness. To me history isn’t something that is really valued in our society, and I hope that when someone comes across my work it can inspire them to dig deeper into history in a curious manner.
Paper Collage, 11 x 14 in
When I first started making collages I would freestyle a lot, but as time has evolved I’ve become more intentional in how I compose a collage. For example, something I do a lot in my work now is highlight specific colors in text or imagery that I use to add another layer to the storytelling of a particular collage. Something like this was never a focus of mine in the beginning, but as I conceptually grow, little things like that really excite me. Throughout my work there are little nuggets of information that I include and being more intentional about how I share that information is a rewarding exercise.
Chicago, IL, 2024
Paper Collage, 11 x 14 in
The type of source material that I’m drawn to is imagery that I feel you haven’t really seen in the canon of fine art. But more importantly, it’s material that has been forgotten or neglected and it allows for me to give it new life. It’s my way of archiving, in an untraditional sense.
Paper Collage, 11 x 14 in
Paper Collage, 11 x 14 in
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Adeshola Makinde (b. 1990) is a Nigerian-American multidisciplinary artist based in Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in the Chicagoland suburbs and in his younger years attended predominantly white schools. This is something that shapes his work today, due to the fact that it was such a stark difference from the life he led at home with his immigrant parents from Nigeria. By going to schools with this sort of racial makeup, he didn’t learn a great deal of Black history, if at all.
Makinde’s drawn to highlighting Black life in his work because he feels as though it’s something that is often neglected. The social justice themes found throughout his work is his way of advocating for those without a voice. Throughout his practice, Makinde often features source material from publications such as EBONY, JET, and other Black ephemera.
Out and About
What to watch, read, and experience, as curated by the Collé team.
▼ READ
Shining Lights: Black Women Photographers in 1980s–90s Britain
Shining Lights is the first critical anthology to bring together the groundbreaking work of Black women photographers active in the UK during the 1980s and 1990s, providing a richly illustrated overview of a significant and overlooked chapter of photographic history.
▼ READ
Fragmentary Forms – Freya Gowrley
Collage, one of the world’s oldest art forms, has evolved from ancient Chinese paper to modernist works and Faith Ringgold’s quilts. Gowrley traces its global history, highlighting its power to tell stories and explore identity. She emphasizes collage’s inclusivity and its role in amplifying marginalized voices across centuries.
▼ LISTEN
Say She She – Prism
Say She She is a Brooklyn-based, female-led ensemble renowned for their "discodelic soul" sound—a harmonious blend of disco, psychedelic, and soul influences. Fronted by classically trained vocalists Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham, and Nya Gazelle Brown, the trio delivers dreamy harmonies and captivating melodies.