HISTORY MAKER
“I’M ON A MISSION TO … RESTORE THE HUMANITY OF BLACK BOYHOOD”
KAY ADEKUNLE RUFAI
Photographer, poet, filmmaker & mental health researcher (he/him)
Kay is a British born Nigerian photographer, poet, filmmaker, author, mental health researcher and founder of the internationally acclaimed S.M.I.L.E-ing Boys projects. He is currently the first artist in residence for West Midlands Police, as part of Coventry City of Culture, using creative arts to improve relationships between police and marginalised young people.
His work explores themes of masculinity, identity, mental health, serious youth violence and community cohesion through art, photography, educational workshops, residencies, training and public events. His work spans the past 8 years in many countries including the UK, USA, Ethiopia, Bhutan, Germany, Scandinavia, Mexico, Nigeria and Colombia.
A great deal of his work has directly engaged diverse communities, young people in custody, at-risk youth, refugee and displaced groups of people, as well as collaboratively creating bodies of work with them. He has received numerous accolades for his research-led series of workshops and exhibitions across the country. His work has been exhibited at The Barbican, City Hall, Tower Bridge, the Royal Court and The Battersea Arts Centre. The award winning S.M.I.L.E-ing Boys project has been featured in the Guardian, Channel 5 news, The Voice, & the BBC.
My favourite TED talk:
Don’t ask where I’m from, ask where I’m a local
Taiye Selasi
KAY ADEKUNLE RUFAI
Photographer, poet, filmmaker & mental health researcher (he/him)
Kay is a British born Nigerian photographer, poet, filmmaker, author, mental health researcher and founder of the internationally acclaimed S.M.I.L.E-ing Boys projects. He is currently the first artist in residence for West Midlands Police, as part of Coventry City of Culture, using creative arts to improve relationships between police and marginalised young people.
His work explores themes of masculinity, identity, mental health, serious youth violence and community cohesion through art, photography, educational workshops, residencies, training and public events. His work spans the past 8 years in many countries including the UK, USA, Ethiopia, Bhutan, Germany, Scandinavia, Mexico, Nigeria and Colombia.
A great deal of his work has directly engaged diverse communities, young people in custody, at-risk youth, refugee and displaced groups of people, as well as collaboratively creating bodies of work with them. He has received numerous accolades for his research-led series of workshops and exhibitions across the country. His work has been exhibited at The Barbican, City Hall, Tower Bridge, the Royal Court and The Battersea Arts Centre. The award winning S.M.I.L.E-ing Boys project has been featured in the Guardian, Channel 5 news, The Voice, & the BBC.
My favourite TED talk:
Don’t ask where I’m from, ask where I’m a local
Taiye Selasi