Convos with Ashley are in-person discussions led by Ashley Hoskins, Creative Director of The Free Black Women’s Library HTX and Anderson Center For The Arts Artist In Resident. They feature three phenomenal women who have contributed to the canon of Black women's literary expression by archiving books and/or writing. These events will be held at the Anderson Center for the Arts during February, March, and April 2025. They are free to attend with registration. Following the conversations, there will be a social hour so that attendees can engage with the featured guests. 

Olaronke Akinmowo Founder of The Free Black Women's Library: April 5, 2025, @ The Anderson Center, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 

(Women’s History Month) 

OlaRonke Akinmowo is a cultural worker, literary scholar, librarian and interdisciplinary artist who works in collage, papermaking, printmaking, book arts, and stop motion animation. She is also an award winning Set Decorator & Set Dresser for Film & TV.

In 2015 she launched The Free Black Women’s Library, a long term social art project that features a collection of over 5000 books written by Black women & Black non-binary folks, a free store, period pantry, backyard garden, reading club, book swap and a wide array of free public programs. This community care space offers all a space to read, write, work, rest, play and day dream. Through her work she aims to interrogate the constructs of safety, beauty and sanity as well as illustrate the transformative power of books, reading, artmaking and community. 

She has received artist residencies and fellowships from multiple notable institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Foundation of the Arts, The Women’s Studio Workshop, BRIC Arts Center, The Blackburn Printmaking Shop, Baldwin for the Arts and Culture Push for Utopian Practice. She has been featured in the New York Times, Hyperallergic, Teen Vogue, Fine Books, Time Out NY and the Drew Barrymore Show.  

A proud mom, union member, plant fiend, and dance machine, she lives and thrives in the village of Bed-Stuy,Brooklyn.