RAKEEM CUNNINGHAM

Rakeem Cunningham uses photography, collage, installation, and video to explore the nuances of queer black experience. Cunningham photographs himself and others playing and posing in the studio informed and surrounded by a multiverse of niche subcultures. Each portrait is a declaration of subjectivity and existence—proof of self-validation and an ongoing healing journey. Cunningham appropriates poses from a cascade of emotionally charged scenes sourced from manga, anime, and narrative role-playing video games with ecstatic flourishes inspired by the unrehearsed choreography of church-goers as they “catch the holy ghost.” These reperformances are akin to cosplay, a physical embodiment of fictional protagonists, or headcanon, a fan's personal, idiosyncratic interpretation of a fictional canon.

Cunningham’s collages use his vast archive of anime stills and printed excerpts to create rhythmic expressions of the human condition that simultaneously convey aspects of his own neurodivergent experiences. By drawing upon the emotionally charged lexicon visible in the expanded world of Japanese animation, Cunningham affectively simulates the qualities of obsessive-compulsive disorder through form and content. Instinctively layering facial expressions and decontextualized emotional energies in the shape of abstract forms, collage becomes a therapeutic release and a somatic healing practice—one element of Cunningham’s mental healthcare routine. With a myriad of references and strategies in tow, Cunningham charges into the potent realm of the imaginary—an inherently radical space that envisions alternative realities and better futures.

Rakeem Cunningham (b. 1992, Pacoima, CA) is a multimedia artist who uses photography, collage, installation, and video to explore the nuances of queer black experience. Cunningham received his BFA from the UCLA Design Media Arts department. Cunningham’s work has been primarily exhibited in venues across Los Angeles, but forthcoming exhibitions are slated to open at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles and the Southeast Museum of Photography at Daytona State College within the next year. His work has been featured in numerous publications including Artforum, Frieze, Hyperallergic, KCRW Art Insider, AUTRE Magazine, Sugarcane Magazine, Curate LA, Vogue, Out Magazine, Pride.com, Portland Mercury, Loverboy Magazine, and Gay Times. Cunningham currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.

Featured Works

CV

RAKEEM CUNNINGHAM

Born 1992, Pacoima, CA

Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA

EDUCATION

2020

BFA, Design + Media Arts, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024

Solo Show, OCHI, Los Angeles, CA (forthcoming)

2023

Black Chrysalis, Schlomer Haus Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2022

Headcanon, presented by OCHI, NADA New York, New York, NY

2021

Hero, OCHI, Los Angeles, CA

2017

White Artists Don't Have to Make Work About Racial Identity, Littman + White Galleries, Portland, OR
Our Bodies Matter, LA LGBT Center Advocate & Gochis Galleries, Los Angeles, CA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023

Queer Threads, curated by John Chaich, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, CA
Moments and Memories, Destination Crenshaw, Los Angeles, CA
Love is Love: Queer Affection and Romance in Contemporary Art, Lehman College Art Gallery, City University of New York, Bronx, NY

2022

Like a child or I go on the playground swings when no one’s around or giggle is such an embodied word (For Eloise Greenfield), curated by Daonne Huff, NADA Curated (online)

2020

Installation #000000, Track 16 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Yesterday-Tomorrow, Baik Art, Los Angeles, CA

2019

THE GLITCH, curated by Haleigh Nickerson + Storm Ascher, Superposition Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
galleryOdd Ark Store, Odd Ark, Los Angeles, CA
Many, Many, Many Men, Little Tokyo Arts Complex (APEX Gallery), Los Angeles, CA
Useless Man, Highways Performance Space, Los Angeles, CA

2018

Whew Chile the Ghetto, TAG Gallery Loft, Los Angeles, CA
In This Together: Embracing Diversity, Castelli Art Space, Los Angeles, CA
Queer Art Show, Southbay LGBT Center, Torrance, CA

2014

Holographic, New Wight Gallery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
UCLA Undergraduate Exhibition, New Wight Gallery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

2013

UCLA Undergraduate Exhibition, New Wight Gallery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

SELECTED CURATORIAL PROJECTS

2020

Blackstract, TAG, Los Angeles, CA
Hard Concept, Soft Material, OCHI, Los Angeles, CA

2019

Can We Live?, Monte Vista Projects, Los Angeles, CA
Wholly Coast, Monte Vista Projects, Los Angeles, CA
LA Open Exhibition, Lead Curator, TAG Gallery, Los Angeles
PROUD+, Exhibition Curator, The Studio Door, San Diego CA
Our Kitchen Table Installation, Fruitcake Queer Bazaar, Los Angeles, CA
Other Places Art Fair (OPAF), Monte Vista Projects, Los Angeles, CA
QiPO 01 Art Fair, Monte Vista Projects, Mexico City, Mexico
Call and Response, B-LA Connect, Kronenboden of Berlin, Monte Vista Projects of Los Angeles and MADLAB of Rotterdam

2018

LA Open Exhibition, Lead Curator, TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2017

Betty Sheinbaum, Lead Curator, TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2023

Romack, Coco. “Artist-Designed Party Hats, and How to Recreate Them," The New York Times, Jul. 27
Bieschke, Marke. “Arts Forecast: Fine shows in full bloom, from corpse flower to Cure songs," 48 Hills, Jul. 6
Ngayi, Thembela. “Black Queer Fiber & Textiles Artists Explore Futurity, Spirituality, Sexuality, And Materiality In Queer Threads," Afropunk, Jun. 15
Bravo, Tony. “Queer Threads at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles.", San Francisco Chronicle, May 12
Clayton, Dominique. “6 Emerging Black American Artists to Keep On Your Radar," Cultured, Feb. 7
Jovanovich, Alex. “Queer Love," Queer Love: Affection and Romance in Contemporary Art, Pub: Lehman College Art Gallery & La MaMa Galleria (catalog)

2021

Trouillot, Terence. “What to See During Los Angeles Gallery Weekend," Frieze, Jul. 26
Berardini, Andrew. “Critics’ Pick: Rakeem Cunningham," Artforum, Jul. 16
Bowie, Summer. “Rakeem Cunningham Presents Hero @ OCHI in Los Angeles," Autre, Jul. 16
Stromberg, Matt and Elisa Wouk Almino. “Your Concise Los Angeles Art Guide for July 2021," Hyperallergic, Jul. 13
Preston Zappas, Lindsay. “Rakeem Cunningham at OCHI," KCRW Art Insider, Jul. 14
Davis, Melissa. “Rakeem Cunnningham Opens First Solo Show at OCHI June 26," Sugarcane Magazine, Jun. 24
Shaw, Michael. “LA-based photographer Rakeem Cunningham," The Conversation, Ep. #295, May 29
Clayton, Dominique. “Jheyda McGarrell Wants To See A Communal Art Future," Cultured, Jan. 4

2020

Holcomb, Shelley. “L.A.-based artist Rakeem Cunningham is the Main Character," Curate.LA, Medium, Jul. 16
Johnson, Alexis Bard. “Safer at Home: Conversation with Rakeem Cunningham," ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, Jun. 22
Turcotte, Maura. “TAG Gallery Rolls Out New Exhibitions," Beverly Press, Jan. 23

2019

Henderson, Taylor. “Many Many Many Men Exhibits the Aftermath of Queer POC Relationships," PRIDE, Dec. 13
Proenza, Javier. “Overwatch, Anime, and Comics – Rakeem Cunningham," What's My Thesis?, Nov. 12
Baumann, Sacha. “Rakeem Cunningham," Full Blede, Iss. 10 (The Undertaking), Oct.
Sepuya, Paul Mpagi. “The Art Issue," VOGUE Ukraine, Aug.
Maximilian. “Krow Kian covers Vogue Ukraine August 2019 by Paul Mpagi Sepuya," Fashionotography, Aug. 20
Davis, Genie. “Can We Live? At Monte Vista Projects," Art and Cake, Aug. 22
Cunningham, Rakeem. “Here’s How Eurocentric Beauty Standards Broke the Art World," Out Magazine, Apr. 26
Otiono, George. “Rakeem Cunningham – Black, Colorful and Bootylicious," Medium / Uncensored Visionary, Apr. 22

2018

Pipes, Matthew. “What’s it like being a young queer black man in 2018?", GAYTIMES, Nov. 2
Davis, Genie. “Whew Chile the Ghetto: An Immersive Experience at TAG Gallery," Diversions LA, Oct. 5
Thomas, Chris. “‘Whew Chile,’ Rakeem Cunningham Brought Ghetto to the Gallery," Out Magazine, Sep. 20
Corner, Lewis. “Grindr launches new Kindr campaign to stamp out sexual racism on its platform," GAYTIMES, Sep. 19
“Grindr Will Stop Profiles From Stating ‘No Fats, No Fems, No Asians,’", Gay Tourism, Sep. 18
Marie, Kathleen. “On the Cover: Meet Artist Rakeem Cunningham," Portland Mercury, Feb. 14
"Dexter Mayfield," GAYTIMES, May (Cover)
“Meet the 23 Most Crushable Queer People of 2018," INTO, Feb. 12
Mothes, Kate. “Rakeem Cunningham," yngspc views, Jan. 9
"Introducing...Rakeem Cunningham," Loverboy, Jan. (Podcast)
"Jaboukie Young-White", MASK Magazine, Jan. (photos)

2017

"Barry Jenkins," Fader Magazine, (cover)
“TS Madison," Fader Magazine, (cover)
"Skai Jackson," LadyGunn Magazine, (cover)

2016

“Meet San Fernando Valley Photographer: Rakeem Cunningham," Voyage LA, Nov. 5

2014

Rustigan, June. “Eye for Design: Student photographer's work takes unique angle," Prime, Daily Bruin, Spring

News

  • Rakeem Cunningham
    ‘Queer Threads’ at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
    San Francisco Chronicle
    May 12 – August 20, 2023
    LINK

  • Rakeem Cunningham
    Artist-Designed Party Hats, and How to Recreate Them
    New York Times
    July 27, 2023
    LINK

  • Rakeem Cunningham
    Arts Forecast: Fine shows in full bloom, from corpse flower to Cure songs
    48 Hills
    July 6, 2023
    LINK

  • Rakeem Cunningham
    Black Queer Fiber & Textiles Artists Explore Futurity, Spirituality, Sexuality, And
    Materiality In Queer Threads
    AFROPUNK
    June 15, 2023
    LINK

  • Rakeem Cunningham
    QUEER THREADS
    Group Show
    San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
    LINK

  • Rakeem Cunningham
    Queer Love: Affection and Romance in Contemporary Art
    Group Show
    Lehman College Art Gallery in New York, NY
    LINK

  • Rakeem Cunningham
    6 Emerging Black American Artists to Keep On Your Radar
    February 7, 2023
    LINK

  • Rakeem Cunningham
    Like a Child
    Group Show
    NADA Online Exhibition
    LINK

  • Rakeem Cunningham
    ‘Headcanon’ Reception
    at NADA NY Project Space
    75 E. Broadway
    Friday May 20th, 4-7pm
    LINK