Opening Night: New exhibitions by Rotimi Fani-Kayode and Abi Morocco Photos

You are invited to celebrate the opening of two new exhibitions at Autograph's gallery in Hackney: Rotimi Fani-Kayode: The Studio – Staging Desire, exploring a radical vision of culture, intimacy, desire and pain, and Abi Morocco Photos: Spirit of Lagos, capturing the rich style and joyous spirit of Lagos in the 1970s through portraiture.

Rotimi Fani-Kayode: The Studio – Staging Desire

In a space where the barriers between difference and fantasy are dissolved, Rotimi Fani-Kayode’s photographs are a spirited exploration of culture, intimacy, desire and pain. From 1983 until his death in 1989, the artist lived and worked in Brixton, where his studio transcended into a sanctuary visualising black queer self-expression. A prominent figure in the Black British art scene, Fani-Kayode’s staged and crafted portraits playfully beckoning the viewer to embrace new possibilities of the self. The Studio – Staging Desire is the culmination of meticulous research into the artist’s archives, presenting never-before-seen works.

Curated by Mark Sealy.

Abi Morocco Photos: Spirit of Lagos

Spirit of Lagos unearths the story of Abi Morocco Photos, one of the most vibrant photographic studios operating in Lagos. The studio’s remarkable black-and-white portraits celebrate the rich style and joyous spirit of a generation of Lagosians during a transformative period in Nigeria’s history. The exhibition Spirit of Lagos focuses on the studio’s formative decade — the 1970s. When viewed collectively these beguiling portraits brings the sitters and their world into a space of liberation and reimagination, vividly capturing the rhythm of everyday life.

Curated by Bindi Vora and Lagos Studio Archives. abi-morocco-photos-spirit-of-lagos

About our openings

Everyone is welcome to Autograph's exhibition openings. Both galleries will be open, plus a bar and an outdoor seating area. This is an informal event, you can arrive and leave at any time.

Your Visit / Accessibility at Autograph

Everyone is welcome at Autograph. Our gallery is located at Rivington Place in Hackney, London. Our iconic building is England’s first permanent public space dedicated to diversity in the visual arts.

Autograph is an accessible venue that welcomes people with all types of disabilities.

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Visit the exhibitions

After the opening night, both exhibitions will continue at Autograph from 31 October 2024 - 22 March 2025. Book a free, timed ticket in advance, or visit anytime the gallery is open.

Photography / Filming at this event

Please note that photography and/or filming may take place at this event. Images from this event may be used by Autograph and external press for marketing and promotional use, including: printed and online publicity, social media, press releases, or other use.

Supported by

Autograph is supported using public funding by Arts Council England. Additionally, Rotimi Fani-Kayode: The Studio – Staging Desire is supported by Paul Mellon Centre for Studies In British Art. Abi Morocco Photos: Spirit of Lagos is supported by Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, Frame Contemporary Art Finland, Kone Foundation, Lagos Studio Archives and Yinka Shonibare Foundation.

Autograph ABP Registered in England no. 2285116 | Registered Charity no. 1127712

Images: 1) Abi Morocco Photos, Aina Street, Shogunle, Lagos [detail], c. 1970s. © Abi Morocco Photos. Courtesy Lagos Studio Archives. 2) Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Untitled [detail], 1988. © Rotimi Fani- Kayode. Courtesy of Autograph, London. 3) Abi Morocco Photos, Aina Street, Shogunle, Lagos [detail], 1979. © Abi Morocco Photos. Courtesy Lagos Studio Archives. 4) Autograph, London. Photograph by Zoë Maxwell.