The Ma EXHIBITION
BFA is curating an exhibition documenting our research exploring the tangible (SPATIAL) and intangible environments created by women.
Image Credit: Cianeh A. Kpukuyou - @askphotos_
Black Females in Architecture Presents Debut Exhibition at London Festival of Architecture from 5-29 June at NOW Gallery as part of the LFA 2025
EXHIBITION DETAILS
Title: Earth, Memory, and the Spaces We Inhabit
Curated by: Black Females in Architecture (BFA) and DẽpART
Part of: London Festival of Architecture – Voices Series
Location: NOW Gallery, 3 Gateway Pavilion, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0SQ
Dates: 5 June to 29 June 2025
Launch Event
The public launch of the London Festival of Architecture Takeover at NOW Gallery showcases three architectural exhibitions by collectives including BFA, Citizen Architects, and Somali Architecture.
The public is welcome to view all three exhibitions taking over the gallery spaces to explore architecture as a social justice and equity tool through various mediums, including participatory installations, film, photography and live programming.
Join us on the 5th of June for the launch of ‘Earth, Memory and the Spaces we Inhabit: Matrilineal Legacies in Contemporary Architecture’.
EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION
"Earth, Memory, and the Spaces We Inhabit" explores matrilineal legacies through sound, sculpture, and architecture.
This groundbreaking exhibition centres memory, care, and generational knowledge as vital forces in reshaping our spatial realities. Rooted in the Sankofa principle — the act of retrieving wisdom from the past to build the future — BFA reimagines architecture as an embodied act of listening, remembering, and envisioning new worlds in a built environment where Black women have historically been underrepresented and undervalued.
Guided by themes of ecology, leisure, and sustenance, the exhibition features:
Three original architectural interventions by BFA members, constructed with materials and methods inspired by matrilineal values and Black spatial traditions.
Sculptural and design objects by diasporic artists that explore ancestral technologies and lived experiences shaping contemporary design.
A commissioned sonic installation by Ghana-based artist Ɛdan, incorporating field recordings, archival audio, and music by TMSKDJ to spotlight the audible architectures created by African women’s voices in urban life.
Cinematic portraits by Liberian filmmaker Cianeh A. Kpukuyou honour women as the often-unseen architects of everyday environments.
The exhibition boldly challenges the traditional boundaries of architecture, positioning it as a space of intimacy, intergenerational connection, and radical re-imagination. As cited in Architectural Digest, despite their transformative contributions, Black women make up less than 0.5% of licensed architects — a statistic this exhibition seeks not just to challenge, but to transcend.
“This is about more than visibility. It’s about reclaiming authorship over our environments and spotlighting the rich lineage of Black women who have always built, held, and nurtured space — even when unrecognised by formal frameworks”
Members of the press are invited to attend the exhibition preview and are encouraged to book interviews with the curatorial team, exhibiting artists, or members of BFA to explore the deeper narratives behind the work. Email us here to set this up!
ABOUT THE CURATORS
Chantel Akworkor Thompson, DēpART
Our co-curator. A cultural consultancy and talent network rooted in African and diasporic perspectives. Building creative connections across continents, championing underrepresented voices and reimagining what global collaboration can look like. Through exhibitions, residencies, and cross-disciplinary projects, DēpART creates space for healing, innovation, and transformation — centring artists, designers, and thinkers.
Carina Tenewaa Kanbi, Ɛdan
Our collaborator. Ɛdan — meaning “little fire” in Scottish Gaelic and “home” in Akan was founded in 2022, from a vision to create equitable, community-led spaces that empower creatives and influence our cities from the ground up.
Responding to the lack of affordable space in the craft and creative sectors, Ɛdan champions access, collaboration, and care. It uplifts indigenous Ghanaian craft traditions while also creating room for innovation and knowledge-sharing across disciplines.
Cianeh A. Kpukuyou, Ask Photos
Our collaborator. A versatile photographer and creative director renowned for her ability to tell authentic, powerful stories through imagery. Since 2018, Ask has worked with various high-profile clients, including Paramount Studios, Tate Modern, Vogue, Gucci, and Water Aid.
Cianeh's photography celebrates the essence of people and communities, weaving timeless stories that evoke deep emotional resonance. She approaches each photograph as a piece of nostalgia, capturing moments that transcend time and speak to universal human experiences.
Michelle Nana Adwoa Agyakomah Yeboah, TMSK DJ
Our collaborator. An internationally acclaimed DJ and producer from Ghana. TMSKDJ has broken boundaries and earned her place as a pioneering figure in Accra's entertainment scene. Her rebrand as “The Masked DJ” in 2015 allowed her to showcase her talent while shifting focus away from her gender in the traditionally male-dominated field. Recognized globally, from Boiler Room to the United Nations stage, and she has leveraged her success to champion women in music.
SupportED BY
A collaboration between BFA, DēpArt and Ɛdan.
Supported by the Public Discourse program at re:arc institute for the London Festival of Architecture 2025.
Part of a series of takeovers at NOW Gallery, Greenwich Peninsula.
Value Africa proudly sponsors the launch event drinks.