MIKE
London born and based multimedia artist Michael Akuagwu (b.1995) invites contemplation through self-portraiture. Utilising surrealist techniques by blending photography and photo-manipulation skills gained from his experience as a graphic designer in advertising, he uses photo-composites as a way to reflect on society today. His work explores themes on mental health, religion, culture and race. At the heart of his work is a desire for all of us to question ourselves and the world around us, creating works based outside of reality to interrogate our own.
EXHIBITIONS
2023
2020
This Is Jungle Justice
LOVE + THE BLUEPRINT, Whitechapel, London, UK
Duty
Ogilvy x Mediacom, Virtual Group Exhibition, London, UK
PROFESSIONAL
2025
2022
2018 - Present
Multimedia Artist
(& Graphic Designer)
Judge • Squarespace
D&AD New Blood Awards ‘22
Artist-in-Residence (Photography)
V&A x Adobe Creative Residency
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ROOTED Issue 1 (Cover Art), Ogilvy Roots
15 Talented Black Artist You Should Know About, Buzzfeed
Meet This Month’s Creative, ERIC Festival
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Now : Rule of Thirds, Cohost, London, UK
2019-2021 : Guest Lecturer, Brooklyn Brothers x Yellowzine Night School, London, UK
2021 : Guest Speaker, Platform Black Summer Reunion, UAL, London, UK
2020 : Black Excellence with The Ubele Initiative, London, UK
2019 : Artist Meet & Day in Life, UAL, London, UK
2019 : Platform Black x Creative Shift: Race, Representation & The Creative Industries, UAL, London UK
2018 : Black Excellence, Representation & The Creative Industries, Durham University, Durham, UK
