The Facts
On September 16, 2026, Sadie Coles HQ announced that Karimah Ashadu's 2024 video 'Machine Boys' is on view at the Art Institute of Chicago. The film examines the informal economy surrounding okadas—commercial motorcycles that serve as unofficial public transport in Lagos, Nigeria. Despite a 2022 ban citing rising crime and traffic violations, drivers continue to operate, facing harassment from government, police, and locals. Ashadu's work captures the kinetic, dangerous daily lives of these workers, who describe constant threats of injury and death, while also finding community and masculine self-determination.
The Signal
The exhibition underscores Ashadu's growing institutional presence; the British-born Nigerian artist, raised in Lagos and now based between Hamburg and Lagos, focuses on Nigeria's socio-economic conditions. For collectors, this presentation at a major U.S. museum signals rising interest in African video art and documentary practices. Ashadu's nuanced portrayal of marginalized labor aligns with contemporary art's turn toward social realism, potentially increasing demand for her film-based works.
- Artists: Karimah Ashadu
- Galleries: Sadie Coles HQ
- Museums: Art Institute of Chicago
- Locations: Chicago, Lagos
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