Bio
Ayo is a Ugandan-born, Rotterdam-based visual artist interested in enlivening unofficial and official archival materials. She enjoys studying oral records, intangible forms of cultural heritage, and craft practices, among other sources, to build plural worlds favourably presented as multi-media constellations encompassing sculpture, film, and performance. ​
Residency
2024: Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, NL
2022: Amant Foundation, New York, U.S.A
2021: Triangle-Asterides, Marseilles, France
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
Selected Exhibitions & * Film Screening
Present -2026
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Collection research & commission, Textile Museum, Tilburg, NL
2024​​​​​
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Lofoten International Arts Festival Biennale, curated by Kjersti Solbakken, NO
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Salon der Rotterdamse kunstenaars 1966/2024, Rotterdam. NL
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*ArtExplora X Triangle Asterides, Marseilles, FR
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Soundtracks of (no) return, Museumnacht Rotterdam 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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Unfair22 Amsterdam, NL (Solo)
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Heks, Artphy, Groningen, NL
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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, Rotterdam, NL, curated by Nathalie Haartjes & Danny Giles.
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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
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Grants + Awards
2023
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Mondriaan Project Grant
2022
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Amarte Fonds
2021
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Guido Huysmans Young African Film Maker Award (Nominee)
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Mondriaan Stipend for Emerging Artists (Werkbijdrage Jong Talent)
2020​
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Willem De Kooning Master Research Award
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Putsebocht Award
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African Culture Fund
2019​
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Stichting Vivace project grant
2018
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KLA Public Art Commission
2016 - 2017
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ArtEZ Academic Merit scholarship
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Conversations
2023​
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De onzichtbare stad, Operator radio X CBK Rotterdam
2021
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Tip Off#5, Melkweg Expo, Amsterdam
2019​
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The body as ground for belonging, Studium generale ArtEZ & Honour's program, Zwolle
2018
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Legacy: An Artist and literary Panel discussion organized byWritivism in collaboration with KLA ART, the Square, Kampala.
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Bibliography
2022
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Art Viewer, Ayo and Melvin Moti at Shimmer
2021​​
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Material Context review, Metropolis Mag
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Don't touch, Artist publication
2020
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Frames of Loss and Memory, An Interview with Christine Ayo. Art for social justice, Tijschrijft Kunstlicht
2019
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Speaking with Others - An Interview with Pussy Riot, APRIA digital publication, ArtEZ.
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Twaalf Vrouwen Een Stem, Gelderlander
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Alle Vrouwen Een Stem, Nieuwe Veluwe
2018
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Voicing Entebbe Artbook
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Art Monthly UK, November issue
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Studium Generale ArtEZ podcast contributor about diversity in art practices and institutions.
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