Azikiwe Mohammed

Azikiwe Mohammed (b. 1982, New York City) is a Black artist whose work bridges art, service, and everyday Black life. Rejecting the myth of the solitary artistic genius, he describes himself simply as “a guy who makes stuff.” His practice spans painting, furniture, jewelry, neon, puppetry, and photography, often assembled into immersive environments that feel like living rooms or gathering spaces—warm, safe, and reflective of Black homes and cultures that shaped him.Mohammed’s father, a working photographer, modeled creativity as a form of sustenance and service, a lesson that grounds Mohammed’s own projects. His long-term work New Davonhaime—named after five American cities with large Black populations—imagines a fictional Black town through real-world businesses and organizations. These include Jimmy’s Thrift, offering free portrait photography, and the New Davonhaime Food Bank, which distributes food across New York City. Through such efforts, Mohammed makes art inseparable from community, centering belonging, care, and everyday survival.

https://azikiwephoto.com