Kayode Ojo

‘The art world is part of my medium,’ explains Kayode Ojo. A disciple of Marcel Duchamp, adopting his penchant for the appropriation of mundane, ‘readymade’ objects, and recognition of the gallery’s ability to vastly elevate the worth and discourse associate with the objects within its grasp, Ojo is interested in making layers of production and trade visible. He gathers fragments pertaining to a materialist, capitalist culture; relics of fast fashion like a H&M fringe dress, a grey ASOS suit, a hairpiece purchased from Amazon. Although Ojo problematises the objects’ conception, he also willingly elevates them, realising their aspirations for grandeur. He meticulously drapes synthetic fabric over metal armatures and pieces of Breuer-style furniture, fastening all of the items taut in a play of mutual culpability using key rings, carabiner hooks and steel handcuffs. ...

C L E A R I N G is a contemporary art gallery based in New York, Los Angeles and Brussels. The gallery was founded in 2011, with the focus of showing emerging art. It now represents over 20 living artists, providing many of them - such as Harold Ancart, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Chase Hall, Calvin Marcus and Marina Pinsky - with their first gallery exhibition. The gallery also represents the estates of Eduardo Paolozzi, Bruno Gironcoli and René Heyvaert. C L E A R I N G supports its artists by producing works, exhibitions and books, as well as working closely with public and private institutions. ...