Building on her work in 2020, when she founded HOA (Horizon of Arts) as São Paulo’s first Black-owned gallery, Ayedun is now moving beyond commercial art spaces.
Left: Portrait of Igi Lọ́lá Ayedun - Photo: Wallace Domingues. Right: Hoa Horizonte. Photo: Almeida da Silva.
HOA Cultural Society’s key efforts include the following initiatives:
-
The Olaosun Omide Artistic Grants and Training Programme (December 2024 – December 2025), which supports young Brazilian artists from marginalised backgrounds through grants and mentorship, guided by decolonial and Black feminist perspectives.
-
The Tova Fischer Arts and Crafts Award (February – December 2025), which provides financial support to arts students from underserved backgrounds, encouraging community engagement through workshops in public schools.
-
The HOA Free Art School (March 2025 – January 2026), which offers free online courses in Contemporary Art Curation and Cultural Management for Museums and promotes critical and inclusive educational practices in the arts.
-
The Benedita Award for Women Artists (September – December 2025), an award that honours and supports women artists, offering financial support and a curated publication of their work.
-
The Horizonte International Residency Programme (April – June 2025, September – October 2025), a partnership with the Institut Français, the French Embassy in Brazil, and the French Ministry of Culture. Brazilian artists will engage in a 10-week residency at Dos Mares in Marseille, France, to explore themes of ecology, identity, and social justice. Francophone artists from Brazil, Africa, France, and its Overseas Territories will then be welcomed to Brazil for a residency focused on cultural exchange, identity, and community engagement.
HOA - Photo credit: Roberto Wallace
As part of its 2025 calendar, the HOA Cultural Society will also debut a floating art pavilion on the Pinheiros River, designed by Ayedun in collaboration with METRO Arquitetos. Known as IOA (Island of Arts), this immersive art installation will fuse art and architecture, offering a sensory and cultural experience. During the unique event, 10-15 artists participating in HOA’s programmes will be showcased in this floating art space. The launch will also coincide with SP-ARTE, South America’s largest art and design fair, held from the 2nd to the 6th of April 2025.
Cover Image; IOA Rendering.
