BIO
Andy Akangah is a self-taught illustrator and creative director based in Ottawa and Toronto, originally from Benin, West Africa. 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. 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. He is passionate about championing digital art in physical spaces, fostering creative communities and teaching the next generation of comic and character artists.
Curriculum VitaE
Andy Akangah (b.1996)
create@theakarts.com
Education
Bachelor of Commerce, Marketing, University of Ottawa / 2014-2018  
Solo ExhibitionS
Culture Illustrated / Behaviour Collective / Ottawa, Ontario / April-August 2022
Hip-Hop Fusion / Urban Art Collective / Ottawa, Ontario / September-December 2024
Group Exhibitions
83 til' Infinity: 40 Years of Hip Hop in the Ottawa-Gatineau Region / Ottawa Art Gallery / Ottawa, Ontario / July 2023-February 2024
We do not dream of labour / Ottawa Art Gallery / Ottawa, Ontario / August-September 2023
How I Love You / Ottawa Art Gallery / Ottawa, Ontario / August-September 2022
Awards and Grants
City of Ottawa / Cultural Initiatives Division Grant / 2023
City of Ottawa / Grow Grant - Equity and inclusion in the arts fund / 2024
Teaching
Guest Speaker / How to Sell Your Art / Fleming College Haliburton School of Art +Design  / Summer 2023
Guest Lecturer / International Business / University of Ottawa / Fall 2022
Pop-Ups
NRML Rideau, Ottawa, Ontario / 2019, 2022
Selected Clients: NBA, Microsoft, AT&T, Complex, SALXCO, National Arts Centre, Ottawa Art Gallery, Government of Canada
PRESS
CBC - SEPTEMBER 16, 2024
Hip Hop Fusion Art Tour
FACES MAGAZINE -  MARCH 1, 2022
The Spring Issue
AT&T - #HISTORYBYUS - FEBRUARY 2, 2018
Why Conscious Hip-Hop Has Never Been More Alive
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