ABOUT THE ARTIST 
 

Growing up in Brooklyn, AKINTOLA HANIF was no stranger to the fine arts scene.  As a child, he and his parents often frequented places like the National Black Theater and the legendary Studio Museum in Harlem, introducing him to some of the most prominent artists of the time.  At a young age Akintola was also introduced to the graffiti and pop art movement, which dominated New York City’s gallery scene in the 1980’s,.  

Akintola’s first film, Freedom or Everybody Dies, a 5-minute mixed media short, has been showcased in the kick-off for the Museum of African American Music and the Black Harvest International Film Festival.  His work has also been featured in shows at the Eyejammie Fine Arts Gallery, Danny Simmons Corridor Gallery, the Annual Lesbian Erotic Arts Fair at New York’s The Center, The H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] Film Festival and as part of the 3rd Wave group show sponsored by the Brooklyn Arts Council. 
 

Currently, Akintola works as the resident documentarian at New Jersey’s YouthBuild Newark program and has recently created several short films denouncing drug use and gang activity amongst young people for the Central Ward Boys and Girls Club and the Clinton Hill Weed and Seed Partnership. Akintola’s latest film entitled, MORAL PANIC: More Heat Than Light (produced by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice) debuted at the Newark Museum on May 13th 2008.

On October 25th, 2009 Akintola opened his studio HYCIDE in Newark, N.J.