Marcus Akinlana - Artist/Muralist
WON Mural Society, 4715 Eastern Street, New Orleans, LA 70122.
Tel: (504) 905 6347 Fax: (504) 288 8368
Email: akin1131@bellsouth.net Website: www.akinlana.com
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2009-10 “Roads to Deliberate Dreams: Indiana’s Geniuses, Tinkerers & Speedsters”. Indianapolis International Airport,
Indiana. (Two mural installations with cantilevered freestanding sculptures). Commissioned by Indianapolis
Airport Authority. In progress.
2009
“The Tuskegee Airmen: They Met the Challenge”. Philadelphia, PA. (Mural with bas relief sculptures).
Commissioned by Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.
2008
“The Storyteller’s Coup D’état and Centrifugal Pullmannesque”. West Pullman Library, Chicago, IL. (Murals with
sculptural installation). Commissioned by Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs.
2007
“Artsolutely Awesome North Philly … Yeahhh!” The Arts Garage, Philadelphia, PA. (Mural with bas relief
sculptures). Commissioned by Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.
“Fleur De Fiyah”, New Orleans, LA. (Painted fiberglass Fleur De Lis). Commissioned by Fore!Kids & Arts
Council of New Orleans.
2006
Tangipahoa African American Museum, Hammond, LA. (Three acrylic mural paintings).
2003
“Aurora Eternal”. Aurora Municipal Center, Colorado. (Mural with etched glass mirrors and glass relief
sculptures). Commissioned by Aurora Art In Public Places.
2001-03 “FlyVentures”. Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania. (Two mural installations with cantilevered
freestanding sculptures and relief). Commissioned by the Public Art Office of Philadelphia.
2000
“Axe Bahia”. New Orleans 2000 Jazz and Heritage Festival. (Murals on panels).
“Jubilee Mural”. St Jude Shrine, New Orleans. (Commemorative Mural).
1998-99 “Mile High and Rising”. Denver International Airport, Colorado. (Mural installation with cut out figures).
Commissioned by the ULOZI and the Mayor’s Office of Art and Culture.
1997
“Monumental Intentions”. Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado. (Venetian glass mosaic). Commissioned
by the Mayor’s Office of Art and Culture.
1996-97 “Historical Triumph of Black Education”. Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta. (Bas relief in concrete).
Commissioned by the Committee for Olympic Development in Atlanta.
1994-95 “The Great Migration”. Elliot Donnelley Youth Center Art Park, Chicago. (Historical narrative mural).
Commissioned by Chicago Public Art Group, EDYC and others.
“Intercambio Monumental”. Farragut Career Academy, Chicago. (Mural collaboration with Juan Chavez).
Commissioned by Chicago Public Art Group.
1993
“Mystical, Magical New Orleans”. London Avenue Canal Floodwalls, New Orleans. (Bas relief in concrete).
Commissioned by the Orleans Levee Board and the Arts Council of New Orleans.
1992
“Es Tiempo De Recordar”. Youth Service Center, Chicago. (Murals executed with Sandra Antongiorgi and Rolf
Mueller). Commissioned by Chicago Public Art Group and others.
“Memory Masks”. Boulevard Arts Center, Chicago. (Mural on shaped panels). Commissioned b y Boulevard
Arts Center.
1991
“Communidad Si”. The Harold Washington Library, Chicago. (Commemorative mural executed with five other
artists). Commissioned by Chicago Public Art Group.
“Where Discord Harmony: The Power of Art”. One Artist Row, Chicago. (Mural collaboration with Olivia
Gude). Commissioned by Chicago Public Art Group and the Neighborhood Institute.
1990
“Benu: The Rebirth of South Shore”. 71st and Jeffries, Chicago. (Mural collaboration with Jeff Cook).
Commissioned by the Dept of Cultural Affairs, Chicago.
1989
“South Shore Rests on the Bosom of Osun”. 75th and Crandon, Chicago. (Acrylic mural). Commissioned by
Chicago Public Art Group and the Neighborhood Institute.
“Art Bench”. Navy Pier, Chicago. (Acrylic murals integrated into bench). Commissioned by the Dept of
Cultural Affairs, Chicago.
1988
“I Welcome Myself To A New Place”. 113th and Cottage Grove, Chicago. (Mural collaboration with Olivia
Gude and Jon Pounds). Commissioned by Chicago Public Art Group.
INVITED CONSULTANT/MURALIST
2003
“The Saga of Mooretown: Spirit of a People”, Shreveport, Louisiana.
1997
1992
1990
Consultant for a local artist led mural workshop and project.
“State of Progression”, Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Consultant and image designer for a mural, fabricated with START youth apprentices and community members
in an urban renewal initiative.
“My Name is New Orleans Tour”, Liverpool, England.
Visiting artist with the Neighborhood Gallery, New Orleans, for the “500 Years of Resistance Festival”.
“Coloriamo Lo Sport”. Milan, Italy.
Represented the City of Chicago’s Dept of Cultural Affairs. Executed Afro-Latino mural with artist Roberto
Valadez for the 1990 World Cup Soccer Tournament.
ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS
2008
Operating “Galerie Cayenne” with business partner on Decatur St. in the New Orleans French Quarter.
2006-08 Opened fine art gallery “Royal Heritage” with partner on Royal Street in the New Orleans French Quarter.
2004-05 Member of the Dutch Alley Artist Co-op Gallery, a retail gallery space in the French Quarter in New Orleans.
CONSULTANCY SERVICES
2005
2002
1998
Community mural project commissioned by the Arts Council of New Orleans – Project consultant on techniques of
working within the community.
Mural project sponsored by the Arts Council of New Orleans – Project consultant.
Joseph Pearson’s mural in downtown Bay St Louis, Mississippi – Project consultant.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2012
2011
2008
2007
2005
“Art Di Gras VII”. Gallery Guichard, Chicago. Group exhibition.
“Gaillarde Land: The Art of Akinlana”, New Orleans African American Museum. Solo exhibition.
“Transcendence”. Nathan Cummings Foundation, New York. Group exhibit of Public Art by the Mural Arts
Program.
“Focus Gallery: Louisiana Artists at the Crossroads”. Meadows Museum of Art, Shreveport, LA. Group
exhibition.
“Celebrate! Commemorate! Communicate!”. American Embassy, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. --Group exhibition
featuring the public art works of African American muralists.
“Muralists Exhibit”. Tangipahoa African American Museum, Hammond, LA. Group exhibition.
“Walls of Heritage, Walls of Pride: African American Murals”. Traveling Exhibit featuring the public art works
of African American muralists.
EDUCATION
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, B.F.A. 1988.
SELECTED TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Bas Relief Workshop. Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia, PA. (07/07)
Mural Workshop. Southern University at Baton Rouge, LA. (4/00)
Art Residency. Grace King High School, New Orleans. (5/99)
LECTURER
Framingham State University, MA. “The Aesthetics of Activism”
Southern University, Baton Rouge. “The Relationship between Marcus Akinlana’s Public Art & Architecture”.
Dillard University, New Orleans. “Public Art Workshop”.
SELECTED AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2010
2006
National Conference of Artists, New Orleans Chapter. Outstanding Art Business Award to Galerie Cayenne.
Contemporary Arts Center, Houston, TX. Katrina Artist Trust Fund.
Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans. SweetArt Katrina Fund.
Arts Council of New Orleans. Visual Artist Relief Grant.