About this episode

This episode features artist John Akomfrah discussing his work and its exploration of the US civil rights movement.

Episode No. 762 features artist John Akomfrah. The Menil Collection, Houston is showing "John Akomfrah: The Hour of The Dog" through October 11. The work, co-commissioned by the Menil and the Baltimore Museum of Art, explores the history of the US civil rights movement between 1954 and 1963. The presentation was curated by Michelle White and Cecilia Wichmann. Akomfrah is one of the world's most celebrated film-based artists. His work often investigates memory, colonialism, diaspora, and the intersection of time and aesthetics. He has had solo exhibitions at several Smithsonian museums, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and at the Tate Britain. He represented the UK in the 2024 Venice Biennale, a year after the UK honored him with a knighthood. This is Akomfrah's third time on the program. His previous visits were on Episode No. 332 and Episode No. 339. Air date: June 11, 2026.

People in this episode

Host: Tyler Green

Guest: John Akomfrah

Topics covered

• art
• civil rights movement
• memory
• colonialism
• diaspora
• film

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Menil Collection, Baltimore Museum of Art, Smithsonian, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Tate Britain

Books & works: John Akomfrah: The Hour of The Dog

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