Akintola Hanif transforms personal journey into economic infrastructure on Halsey Street
Newark art spaces are evolving. The closing reception for THE BLACK & WHITE [REDUX] exhibit at HYCIDE XPANSE proved that art spaces can function as more than galleries—they can serve as sanctuaries.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Akintola Hanif embodies the borough’s spirit of spreading love into everything he creates. As founder of HYCIDE XPANSE and curator of the exhibit, he framed the evening around a guiding belief: “Few things heal the soul the way that community, connection, and art can.” What followed was both celebration and reflection—a reclaiming of space and story.
The exhibition featured work from six photographers whose perspectives reflect Newark’s creative depth: Akintola Hanif, Lepi, Erik James Montgomery, Jean Messeroux, Amandla Baraka, and Kenibashu Saikaptah. Each artist brought distinct visual narratives that reinforced the exhibit’s central themes while showcasing the range of talent operating within the city’s artistic ecosystem.
“Community is the heart beat of life’s rhythm…a sacred institution to be drawn from, but this well must be replenished. Xpanse represents the fruit that feeds the thoughts, minds and souls of a community.” – Junestar Blackman of June and The Pushas
The exhibit itself drew from HYCIDE: The Black and White Book, centering narratives of Black power and white supremacy. Given the history of the riots in 1967, Newark’s community knows oppression intimately. But rather than ending the exhibition quietly, Hanif chose to close with gathering. “The crux of the message beckons back to the stories… The Newark community has lived these stories,” he explained. “Closing off the exhibition with a gathering of that very community serves to derive empowerment and strength from togetherness.”
The Brooklyn-to-Newark connection runs deeper than geography. Both cities share histories of artistic resilience, community-driven spaces, and cultural movements born from necessity in the absence of institutional support. From Bed Stuy’s creative collectives to Newark’s jazz legacy, artists in both cities have long understood that thriving requires building your own infrastructure.
Hanif founded the immersive arts space following his stroke, a period that forced him to rebuild his health and his entire approach to creativity and community. “I took inventory of my life, observed everything in my orbit and replaced everything that no longer served me with things that uplifted me,” Hanif said. “HYCIDE saved me. Working on HYCIDE and sticking to my script allowed me to elevate myself.”
The space functions as more than a traditional gallery. Dedicated to photography, media, mentorship and wellness, XPANSE operates as what Hanif calls “a curated third space for critical thinking and aligned minds.” It’s where mindfulness meets artistic practice, where personal healing intersects with community building.
The closing reception embodied this intersection. Attendees experienced DJ sets by the multitalented Zunyda, performances from lyricist Arrow The Symbol, singer/songwriter Janétza Miranda, funktronic band Cosmik Debris, and the soul collective June and The Pushas. Mark The Spark held down the DJ duties for the afterparty. Hanif described the combination of sound, community dialogue, and visual art in a single evening as “a mix of everything I am right now and everything I’m on, in one room. Art, culture, community, vibes. It’s all peace and love; fun with a purpose.”
What makes HYCIDE XPANSE particularly relevant is its timing. As traditional creative industries face disruption, Hanif is modeling alternative career paths for artists. The space offers mentorship and wellness programming designed to help creatives “develop alternative career paths like I was able to do for myself.”
This approach recognizes that healing—personal and communal—isn’t separate from economic sustainability. It’s foundational to it.
“Healing is a deeply personal process,” Hanif reflected. “For me it was a combination of love, therapy, friendship, and really diving deep inside myself.” But at XPANSE, individual healing connects to collective strength.
“The new Hycide space is nothing short of the continued wonder I have come to expect of Akintola Hanif. The exhibit was thought-provoking and powerful and so much of the art community came out to support. Seeing a diverse mix of practicing artists, musicians, photographers young and old(er) inspired confidence in Newark’s artistic future.” – Poet/Singer/Curator, K. Desiree
James Rashad captured by Joseph V Moore Jr
The closing reception demonstrated something Newark has long possessed but rarely receives credit for: a robust creative ecosystem. The diverse turnout—artists, musicians, photographers spanning generations—revealed an artistic community that shows up for itself.
The art space positions itself within this ecosystem not as competition but as contribution. “The opening of XPANSE marks the maturation of HYCIDE,” Hanif explained. “It marks a shift in space and a shift in mentality.” The shift matters because it represents what happens when artists control their own spaces, tell their own stories, and define their own terms for success.
As creative industries shift, models like HYCIDE XPANSE pave the way for individual artists and entire communities building wealth through culture. What spaces in your city are doing this work? And how can we support the infrastructure that turns healing into power?
Follow HYCIDE XPANSE [@hycide_xpanse] to see what comes next from Newark’s emerging art sanctuary.