Abbot Hall acquires three works by artist Okiki Akinfe

Three works by London-based artist Okiki Akinfe have been acquired by Lakeland Arts for display at the Kendal gallery.

The pieces—a painting, preparatory drawing, and lightbox—were selected from the Focus section of Frieze London.

The acquisition was made possible through the new £30,000 Dasha Shenkman Focus Fund, established by the Contemporary Art Society in partnership with Frieze.

Diane Reid, chair of trustees at Lakeland Arts, said: "Lakeland Arts is delighted to be adding the work of Okiki Akinfe to the permanent collection at Abbot Hall art gallery in Kendal.

"Okiki’s work stood out in this year’s Frieze Focus section as ambitious, energetic, and grounded in the technical mastery of paint.

"Acquiring a significant painting, a lightbox, and a drawing has meant we are able to capture something of the breadth of Okiki Akinfe’s practice and development at a pivotal stage in her career.

"We are grateful to the Contemporary Art Society and Dasha Shenkman for this special opportunity to acquire exciting new artworks for our collection, and look forward to bringing them onto display at Abbot Hall soon."

At the heart of the acquisition is Fame is a Gun, a self-portrait that explores art history, figurative representation, and the expressive potential of paint.

Akinfe’s approach leaves parts of the canvas exposed, highlighting the process of creation and prompting viewers to reflect on meaning.

The painting depicts the artist seated backwards on a chair, one arm extended in front of her, casting a shadow across her face, with her hand shaped like a gun.

The gesture suggests a complex mix of playfulness, threat, and self-presentation.

Akinfe’s work draws on art history, popular culture, and personal experience to examine Black identity, Britishness, and the stereotypes that shape perception.

The acquisition brings a fresh perspective to Abbot Hall’s permanent collection, which is known for its strengths in portraiture and figurative painting.

Her engagement with art history and representation creates new opportunities for dialogue between historic and contemporary artistic practice.

The Dasha Shenkman Focus Fund is a new initiative supporting the acquisition of work by emerging artists featured in the Focus section of Frieze London.

It was established by arts patron Dasha Shenkman to help early-career artists gain recognition and reach wider audiences through public collections.

Ms Shenkman said: "I'm absolutely thrilled with the outcome of this first year's award.

"Okiki Akinfe is a hugely talented young artist and I'm delighted that Abbot Hall Gallery has had the vision and courage to make such a bold choice.

"It is the perfect example of how supporting emerging talent can benefit everyone involved.

"For me, it's a real win-win.

"An artist gains recognition and opportunity, while the gallery brings exciting new work into its collection for the benefit of its audiences."

The fund also marks the tenth anniversary of the Contemporary Art Society’s partnership with Frieze.

Abbot Hall has built one of the North of England’s most important public art collections over more than sixty years.

Its holdings include works by J.M.W. Turner, John Ruskin, George Romney, Barbara Hepworth, and Bridget Riley.

The gallery also runs a varied programme of temporary exhibitions, often exploring themes of ecology, landscape, and the connections between art and place.

The acquisition of Akinfe’s work continues Abbot Hall’s commitment to showcasing contemporary voices alongside its historic collections.

The three works will join the Lakeland Arts permanent collection, with plans to display them at Abbot Hall in due course.