​AYO is a Ugandan-born Rotterdam-based multidisciplinary artist. Her practice enlivens unofficial and institutional archives with an experiential understanding of knowledge as incomplete until it flows through the body. Engaging with people as archives, AYO enjoys studying oral history, intangible forms of cultural heritage, and craft traditions to build plural worlds favourably presented as multi-media constellations encompassing sculpture, film, sound, and performance.
AYO's work has recently been shaped by obsolete Indigenous objects, reimagining them as carriers of cultures and belonging. She's also fascinated by non-linguistic sounds, exploring how they can connect us beyond the limits of language.
Photographed by Christijn Groeneveld
Residency
2024 -2026: Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, NL
2022: Amant Foundation, New York, U.S.A
2021: Triangle-Asterides, Marseilles, France
Selected Exhibitions & * Film Screening
2025
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(Ongoing) Collection research & commission, Textile Museum, Tilburg, NL
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(forthcoming) Traces We Keep, curated by Yannik Güldner & Jeanette Bisschops, Brutus, Rotterdam, NL
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Traces of the intangible, on sun, shell & soil, Kers Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
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Open Studios, Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunst, Amsterdam, NL
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Art Rotterdam, Kers Gallery, NL
2024
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Gnistsambandet/ SPARKS, Lofoten International Arts Festival Biennale, curated by Kjersti Solbakken, NO
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Beetsooflaaseef, Huidenclub, NL (solo)
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Salon der Rotterdamse kunstenaars 1966/2024, De Doelen, Rotterdam. NL
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*ArtExplora X Triangle Asterides, Marseilles, FR
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Soundtracks of (no) return, Museumnacht Rotterdam X Huidenclub, NL
2023
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Unbalanced Power relations (Ladderkast Project) curated by Mirjam Westen, Galerie Phoebus, Rotterdam, NL
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That which chases away sorrow, two-person presentation with Kitty Maria, Singular Art Gallery, Art Rotterdam, NL
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Prospects, Art Rotterdam, NL
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When things are beings, Municipal Art Acquisitions, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NL
2022
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An Invitation for liveness, For Your Reference, Amant, New York, U.S.A
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When things are beings, Municipal Art Acquisitions, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NL
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A Door Ajar, Singing, Shimmer, Rotterdam, NL
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Singing off Key, Singular Art Gallery, Nijmegen (Solo)
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Unfair, Amsterdam, NL (Solo)
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*Rencontres Internationales Paris, FR & Berlin, GR
2021
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*25th Afrika Film festival, Leuven, BE
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Ateliers Portes Ouvertes, Triangle-Asterides, Marseilles, FR
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Material Context, Het Archief, curated by Nathalie Haartjes & Danny Giles, NL
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*Tent Online Cinema, Tent Rotterdam, NL
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On Display, Print& Play Group Exhibition, curated by Marieke van den Belt & Thieu Custers
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*Possessed, European Media Art Festival, Osnabrück, GR
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Unbound Anthologies, a two-person exhibition with Katrina Niebergal, Available and the Rat, Rotterdam
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2020​​
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*A house of Many Parts, curated by Lucas Morin, Goethe Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
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Modern Day Griots and Tapped Train Conversations, a two-person exhibition with KateÅ™ina Gabriel Konarovská), Expoplu Experiment, Curated by Fenne Saedt, Post, NL
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Daybed, Weelde, curated by KONTRA Rotterdam, NL
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* We are Living Monuments, 66th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, GR
2019
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​Your voice Matters, Museum Arnhem De Kerk, Curated by Mirjam Westen, NL
Grants + Awards
2024
Cultuurfonds
Stichting Stokroos
Stichting Niemeijerfonds
CBK praktijkbijdrage
2023: Mondriaan Project Grant
2022: Amarte Fonds
2021:Guido Huysmans Young African Film Maker Award (Nominee)
2021: Mondriaan Stipend for Emerging Artists (Werkbijdrage Jong Talent)
2020: Willem De Kooning Master Research Award
2020: Putsebocht Award
2020: African Culture Fund
2017: ArtEZ Academic Merit Scholarship
Selected Bibliography + Conversations
2025
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Open Studios Rijksakademie review by Lara den Hartog Jager
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Studio International interview: Rijksakademie Open Studios: Nora Aurrekoetxea, AYO and Eniwaye Oluwaseyi
2024
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Gnistsambandet/ SPARKS Review
2022
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When things are beings, Stedelijk Museum Publication
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Art Viewer, Ayo and Melvin Moti at Shimmer
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De onzichtbare stad, Operator radio X CBK Rotterdam, Art Rotterdam
2021​​
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Tip Off#5, Melkweg Expo, Amsterdam
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Material Context review, Metropolis M
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Don't touch, Artist publication
2020​
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Frames of Loss and Memory, Tijdschrijft Kunstlicht
2019
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Speaking with Others - An Interview with Pussy Riot, APRIA digital publication, ArtEZ.
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The body as ground for belonging, Studium generale ArtEZ & Honour's program, Zwolle
2018
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Voicing Entebbe publication
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Education
2018-2020: MA Fine Art (Cum Laude) Piet Zwart Institute, Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2016-2017: BA Fine Art (Honour's Program) Propedeuse, ArtEZ Institute of the Arts, Arnhem, The Netherlands
2008-2012: BBA, International School of Business & École Supérieure de Commerce, Montpellier, France