Rotimi Fani-Kayode: Tranquility of Communion
Rotimi Fani-Kayode: Tranquility of Communion is the first comprehensive museum presentation of Nigerian-British photographer Rotimi Fani-Kayode (1955–1989). A prolific artist, Fani-Kayode negotiated his outsider status along multiple axes, balancing his heritage as scion of a prominent Nigerian family—one closely aligned with the Yoruba priesthood, yet living in exile—with the exploration of his own queer sexuality. Embracing the camera as a means of reconciling these disparate facets of his identity, he generated a remarkable body of images over the course of a career cut tragically short by his untimely death in 1989 at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Largely ignored during his lifetime, Fani-Kayode’s work has received belated recognition in conversations around global Black art and queer photography, presciently anticipating the concerns of a new generation of artists.
Surveying the full breadth of his career, Tranquility of Communion confirms Fani-Kayode’s status as a major contributor to the art of his time, while also revealing him in a new light. Organized in partnership with Autograph ABP, London, UK, the exhibition features key series of color and black-and-white photographs along with never-before-seen archival works, including selections representing Fani-Kayode’s student years in the United States. Guest curated by Autograph Director Mark Sealy, the exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated publication conceived as an essential sourcebook for future research on the artist.
Venue Details
Wexner Center for the Arts
1871 N High St
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-3535
Tue, Wed & Fri 10am–6pm, Thur 10am–8pm, Sat & Sun 10am–5pm
Exhibitions are free to the public, screenings excluded
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