Alayo Akinkugbe is a British-Nigerian art historian, curator, and writer whose work is reshaping the traditional landscape of art history. Her contributions have centered on highlighting the narratives and contributions of Black artists, thinkers, and curators, offering a powerful alternative to Eurocentric approaches that have long dominated the field. Through a variety of platforms—including the widely-followed Instagram page @ablackhistoryofart, the podcast A Shared Gaze, and her book Reframing Blackness—Akinkugbe is establishing herself as a vital voice in contemporary art discourse.

Her journey into art history began at the University of Cambridge, where she pursued a degree in History of Art. During her studies, she became acutely aware of the absence of Black artists in academic curricula. This realization spurred the creation of @ablackhistoryofart in 2020, a platform dedicated to spotlighting underrepresented Black creatives throughout history and into the present. Akinkugbe later completed a Master’s degree in Curating the Art Museum at the Courtauld Institute of Art, further grounding her academic and professional pursuits in curatorial practice.

In 2024, Akinkugbe curated her first solo exhibition, The Whole World Smiles With You, at the Opera Gallery in London. The show brought together works from Black figurative artists spanning the 1980s to the present, including celebrated names such as Kehinde Wiley, Amoako Boafo, and Adjei Tawiah. Her curatorial approach emphasized not only the richness of Black identity but also the diversity within Black artistic expression, challenging viewers to move beyond singular or stereotypical narratives.

Beyond the exhibition space, Akinkugbe connects with global audiences through her podcast A Shared Gaze, where she interviews Black artists about their work and creative philosophies. She also contributes to AnOther Magazine with a regular column titled “Black Gazes,” exploring Black perspectives across historical and contemporary art. Her debut book, Reframing Blackness: What’s Black about “History of Art”?, delves into the systemic exclusions of traditional art historical narratives and advocates for a broader, more inclusive perspective. With her bold voice and critical insights, Akinkugbe continues to inspire a more equitable understanding of art and its history.