Antoine’s Organ (2016) is a monumental, immersive multimedia installation by contemporary artist Rashid Johnson, on view as a part of his career-spanning exhibition, A Poem for Deep Thinkers. Serving as a metaphor for the artist’s own brain, the artwork explores complex themes of race, class, yearning, Afrocentric identity, and the subversion of cultural containment.

Named after the classically trained pianist and music producer Antoine Baldwin (also known as Audio BLK), who originally activated the work in its 2016 debut, a piano is hidden at the center of the labyrinthine structure. Throughout the exhibition’s run, musicians perform live improvisations from within the structure. Music floats through the foliage, giving life and cohering community through shared narrative.

Due to limited capacity, we encourage guests to cycle through the gallery during the performance.

About the Performer

AKENYA is an award-winning, multi-genre vocalist, pianist, composer, and producer. Fearlessly combining elements across eras and cultures, her music is an eclectic synthesis of jazz, hip-hop, soul, pop, classical, and world music. She seamlessly bridges the traditional with the cutting edge, making her a timeless talent. Her compositions are nuanced and personal, and her pianistic ability is outright virtuosic. Yet it is her voice—dynamic in range, timbre, and versatility—that shines center stage, beautifully wielded like a finely tuned instrument of the highest caliber. AKENYA’s career started in her early youth. At age 7 she was teaching herself piano masterworks by Beethoven by ear, and by age 12 she had written 100 original songs. At 13, she became the youngest student accepted to the Chicago Academy for the Arts.

A proud Chicago native, AKENYA has since lent her talents to some of the city’s leading artists ranging from hometown hero Chance the Rapper to living legend Mavis Staples; which led to a Grammy® nomination. Perhaps the most notable of these collaborations is her work with rapper Noname, whom she toured with for years as musical director, background vocalist, keyboardist, and opening act. Some of their highlights together include appearing on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert and a recent, stellar set at Coachella Music Festival in 2023.

While her contributions to the hip-hop and soul scenes of Chicago are immense, AKENYA has more than made her mark in other realms. A graduate of New England Conservatory of Music’s world renowned Jazz Studies program, AKENYA has studied under and worked with a variety of jazz heavyweights such as Esperanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer, and Dave Holland, to name a few. She has also performed with pop/rock sweetheart Hayley Williams of Paramore, who hails AKENYA as “one of the best singers I’ve heard in my whole life.” In 2022, her journey with classical music came full circle when Palaver Strings featured her debut chamber-orchestral piece, “Fear the Lamb”—a tribute to the life of Emmett Till—on their debut album Ready or Not. This seminal work gained praise from The Guardian, The Arts Desk, and the 2nd movement.

AKENYA’s unique style and vast artistry has garnered the attention of publications such as The Fader, Afropunk, and The Chicago Tribune, which has heralded her as a “multi-faceted genius.” In 2022, she was one of two recipients to be honored with the prestigious 3Arts Award in Music. She has performed her own music globally, playing at notable venues and festivals including a main stage set at Pitchfork Music Festival in 2024. She has released several successful singles over the years. Her most successful release, sleeper hit “Decay,” is regarded as a favorite amongst fans and critics alike, having garnered over 1.5 million streams and counting. She is currently finishing her highly anticipated album Moon in the 4th, an 11-years-in-the-making, quasi-autobiographical opus. Its lead single, “Hades Moon,” is available now for streaming and purchase on all platforms.