Under the watchful eye of an uncle, Akeylah Imani Wellington (b. 1998) learned to bop her head in a 1999 Honda Accord driving through Fort Lauderdale. Her work is concerned with the nature of humor—both as a noun connoting comedy and as a verb meaning to endure. She blends personal narrative and word play with 2000s visual culture, and is inspired by historical ironies, editing softwares, and internet mememakers. Her commitment is to a personal, somber digestion of the psychological and existential consequences of living in the United States as a loving, slave-descended citizen with many complaints and little power. Based in Columbus, OH, Wellington works as a Lecturer at The Ohio State University. Her work has shown at Majestic Galleries (Nelsonville, OH) and The Anderson (Richmond, VA), and is a former Winter Resident of Wassaic Project (NY).