The 2021 Absa L’Atelier Art Ambassador Dr Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, from Lagos, Nigeria, returned with a new exhibition titled ‘Terrains of Memory’ earlier this month (August) at the Association for Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery in Cape Town.
Known for her visually seamless, thought-provoking, and emotionally striking exhibitions, Dr Ayobola Kekere-Ekun started her career in 2016 at Rele Gallery in Lagos. Ayobola is no stranger to exhibiting her art in association with Absa L’Atelier Art and the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA). Her first exhibition with Absa L’Atelier Art was a joint exhibition in the year 2022 named “Refuge: an uncommon home” as a result of her winning the coveted Absa L’Atelier Art 2021 Ambassador Award at the Absa Gallery in Johannesburg.
The exhibition ‘Terrains of Memory’ comes at the most opportune time as Absa L’Atelier Art celebrates forty years of opening doors to African artists with powerful narratives to share and relatable experiences to convey in their art. “Zak,” her creative alter ego, is synonymous with telling deeply personal stories; her work attempts to underscore how complicated life is and how human experiences can shape an artist’s story and career. As she folds fabric, it becomes an expression on its own of emotions and memories of a turbulent time.
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition Dr Ayobola Kekere-Ekun said, “I feel grateful to be at a point where I can not only make the work I have made but also share it publicly. It has been a long road, and I am glad that I am here.”
When asked about ‘Terrains of Memory,’ Dr Kekere-Ekun said, “I actually feel quite vulnerable, which I did not expect. From conversations I have had with people who have seen the show, they seem to really understand and relate to the themes I was trying to explore in a deeply personal way. I think the show is morphing into a bit of a collective memoir, one viewing at a time.”
To add on to these thoughts, senior art and museum curator at Absa Group, Dr Paul Bayliss, said, “Dr Ayobola’s return with ‘Terrains of Memory’ comes at a very opportune moment as Absa L’Atelier Art celebrates 40 years of supporting artists to tell stories that shift society and create a deeper understanding of issues that we face. What Dr Ayobola has done with this exhibition is that she has shown art lovers and others that no emotion is too big or too complex to hold to yourself and that if those emotions are not expressed, these emotions will ruin our existence as we know it. We are proud of Dr Ayobola and cannot wait to see what she will do next.
Throughout the years, Dr Kekere-Ekun’s work has been seen in exhibitions from Lagos to Los Angeles, and her art has attracted the attention of the rich and famous in Hollywood, such as Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz. Her return to exhibit in association with Absa L’Atelier Art is another milestone not only for her but also for Absa L’Atelier Art, while celebrating forty years of opening doors.
The host of the exhibition, the Association for Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery, has served as the cornerstone and pioneer of unique art in the artistic community, with generations of renowned artists showcasing their work at the gallery. Dr Kekere-Ekun’s ‘Terrains of Memory’ becomes one of those iconic pieces of unique art to grace the Association for Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery walls.
“As ‘Terrains of Memory’ makes its debut, it signals the start of an exciting journey towards the announcement of the 2026 Absa L’Atelier Art Ambassadors at the Absa L’Atelier Art and Lifestyle Fair on 10 October 2026. Absa remains committed to championing Africa’s creative talent, ensuring artists have the platform, recognition and support needed to shape the continent’s cultural future,” concludes Dr Bayliss.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition: Terrains of Memory
Artist: Dr. Ayobola Kekere-Ekun (2021 Absa L’Atelier Art Ambassador Winner)
Gallery: Association for Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery – Cape Town
Exhibition Dates: 06 August – 26 September 2026
Free Entry
