BIO
Andy Akangah is a Benin-Ghanaian-Canadian self-taught illustrator and creative director based in Ottawa and Toronto. He is the founder and CEO of AKARTS Comics, a hip-hop inspired art brand that merges the visual languages of comic books, anime, and streetwear, exploring themes of identity, nostalgia, and Black cultural expression through bold, character-driven compositions.
Akangah’s practice spans digital illustration, apparel design, comic-driven storytelling, and large-scale installations. He often draws on rap iconography and pop culture to challenge how hip-hop can be archived, remixed, and reimagined. He is passionate about championing digital art in physical spaces, fostering creative communities and teaching the next generation of comic and character artists.
His work has garnered attention from global institutions and brands with clients like the NBA, Microsoft, Complex, Polaris Music Prize, and the Government of Canada, and has been recognized by celebrities such as Timothée Chalamet and The Weeknd. Akangah’s work has been featured on national television (CBC, CTV) and public platforms like the National Arts Centre’s Kipnes Lantern. 
 
     Credit: Anthony Nusca
Curriculum VitaE
PRESS
CBC - OCTOBER 19, 2024
Afrofuturism celebrated at National Gallery of Canada art conference
Afrofuturism celebrated at National Gallery of Canada art conference
APT613 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2024
Art that comes to life: a look into AKARTS’ Hip-Hop Fusion exhibition
Art that comes to life: a look into AKARTS’ Hip-Hop Fusion exhibition
CBC - SEPTEMBER 16, 2024
Hip Hop Fusion Art Tour
Hip Hop Fusion Art Tour
CTV News - July 19, 2023
Comic book by Andy Akangah for "83 'til Infinity" exhibition at the Ottawa Art Gallery
Comic book by Andy Akangah for "83 'til Infinity" exhibition at the Ottawa Art Gallery
FACES MAGAZINE -  MARCH 1, 2022
The Spring Issue
The Spring Issue
SHIFTER MAGAZINE - JANUARY 21, 2022
ANDY AKANGAH, CEO OF "AKARTS" STREETWEAR LINE
COMPLEX - NOVEMBER 25, 2021
Meet the Ottawa Artist Turning Rappers Into Comic Book Superheroes
ANDY AKANGAH, CEO OF "AKARTS" STREETWEAR LINE
COMPLEX - NOVEMBER 25, 2021
Meet the Ottawa Artist Turning Rappers Into Comic Book Superheroes
AT&T - #HISTORYBYUS - FEBRUARY 2, 2018
Why Conscious Hip-Hop Has Never Been More Alive
Why Conscious Hip-Hop Has Never Been More Alive