OlaRonke Akinmowo is a cultural worker, literary scholar, librarian and interdisciplinary artist who works in collage, papermaking, printmaking, book arts, and stop motion animation. She is also an award winning Set Decorator & Set Dresser for Film & TV.

In 2015 she launched The Free Black Women’s Library, a social art project that features a collection of 5000 books written by Black women & Black non-binary folks, a free store, period pantry, backyard garden, reading club, book swap and a wide array of free public programs.  Through her work she interrogates the constructs of safety, beauty and sanity and illustrates the transformative power of books, reading, artmaking and community. 

She has received artist residencies and fellowships from multiple notable institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Foundation of the Arts, The Women’s Studio Workshop, BRIC Arts Center, The Blackburn Printmaking Shop, Baldwin for the Arts and Culture Push. She has been featured in the New York Times, Hyperallergic, Teen Vogue, Fine Books, Time Out NY and the Drew Barrymore Show.  

A proud mom, union member, plant fiend, and dance machine, she lives and thrives in the village of Bed-Stuy,Brooklyn.

Stay connected to her work @thefreeblackwomenslibrary on all social media platforms.

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