Shala. is available for commissions , creative direction, DJ and speaking engagements.

2019 Innovator of the Year nominee | AD COLOR

2019 Innovator of the Year I Museum of Science and Industry

2018 Artist of the Year | African American Arts Alliance

2018 Creative Person of the Year | Society of Africans in the Diaspora

2018 ANA Grand Prize for Comcast "MLK Visions Of King" Commission

2018 ANA Multicultural Excellence Award for Comcast "MLK Visions of King" Commission

2017 Year of Public Art Honoree | City of Chicago

2014 Martell Rising Icon

FADER.COM FEATURE

VOYAGE MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

CHICAGO WOMEN'S MAGAZINE FEATURE

CHICAGO MAGAZINE FEATURE

COMPLEX NISSAN AD

NO MORE VINYL INTERVIEW

WGN RADIO'S CORNERSTORE INTERVIEW

BET AWARDS RED CARPET INTERVIEW

2019 Thompson Center | Chicago, IL

2019 Museum of Science and Industry I Chicago, IL

2018 Philadelphia Museum of Art and The Betsy Ross House | Philadelphia, PA

2018 Artropolis for Art Basel | Miami, Florida

2018 Revel Fulton Market | Chicago, IL

2017 Gallery Guichard | Chicago, IL

2015 Koval Lacuna Solo Exhibition | Chicago, IL

2014 Mars Gallery Solo Exhibition | Chicago, IL

COLLABORATIONS & COMMISSIONS

HONORS

MEDIA

EXHIBITIONS

Shala’s Bronzeville Solar Pyramid is a 16 feet tall pyramid skinned by unique art-rendered solar giclees. The groundbreaking Chicago landmark generates solar electricity that allows it to illuminate and provide energy to a neighboring building. This has made Shala’s Bronzeville Solar Pyramid the first public sculpture of its kind.

Shala’s gallery and public work challenges social convention in a charming, yet, confronting way. As a consequence, the artwork itself is expressed through re-examined forms of media and technology. The execution of his work illustrates the social impact mission of his work.

"Similar to my public art, my gallery art challenges social narratives, common perceptions and shared perspectives. I think my work, in general, tends to re-imagine traditional platforms and mediums — like turning solar panels and framed glass panels into canvases. I invite people to consider what’s available when we look at things differently."

• Shala.

Shala has partnered with multiple global brands including Nissan, Xfinity, Anheuser-busch and Lululemon. He has also received multiple honors, and his solar artwork has been the subject of a brand campaign and even a Fall course at the Illinois Institute of Technology. As he gains recognition, his candid artist talks are quickly gaining notoriety and he routinely speaks at various institutions of higher learning; often following up with a unique DJ set and after affair.

Photo: Rena Naltsas

Shala Akintunde is a Nigerian multidisciplinary contemporary artist and pioneer in the medium of Solar Art; a discipline that seamlessly merges art and solar technology. He is primarily lauded for the creation of the poignant portrait series, Shala's Seven Spoon and his groundbreaking solar murals and sculptures; particularly Shala's Bronzeville Solar Pyramid.

OCEAN BLUE MAGAZINE FEATURE IN 25TH ANNIVERSARY HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL EDITION

KULTURE HUB INTERVIEW BY NIDGEL D' SOUZA

BLINDFOLD MAGAZINE INTERVIEW