Ilayda Bakare: The Inspiring Story of the Mathematician, Artist, Coder and Founder Behind Exhibits
Ilayda Bakare and the Story Behind Her Growing Reputation
The name ilayda bakare has become increasingly associated with creativity, technology, culture and entrepreneurship. Rather than following a conventional career path, Ilayda Bakare has built a distinctive professional identity by bringing together several interests that are not always found in the same person. She has a background in mathematics, experience as a self-taught coder and artist, and a strong interest in museums, exhibitions and cultural spaces. Her work demonstrates how analytical thinking and creativity can work together to produce something useful for a wider community.
Ilayda Bakare is particularly known as the founder of Exhibits, a project designed to make it easier for people to discover exhibitions across London. The idea grew from a personal frustration: London has an enormous number of museums, galleries and cultural venues, but finding out what exhibitions are actually taking place can be surprisingly difficult. Instead of accepting that problem, Bakare decided to create a solution herself. Her journey from identifying that problem to developing a digital platform has become one of the most interesting parts of her story.
What makes the story of Ilayda Bakare especially interesting is that her career does not fit neatly into a single category. She is not simply a technology entrepreneur, nor is she simply an artist. Her background in mathematics gives her an analytical foundation, while her artistic interests have influenced the way she thinks about culture, design and representation. Her experience learning to code independently has also allowed her to turn an idea into a working product rather than leaving it as a concept.
Who Is Ilayda Bakare?
Ilayda Bakare is a London-based creative entrepreneur, artist and technology builder associated with Exhibits. Public profiles describe her as being born and raised in Peckham in South East London. Her background includes mathematics, creative practice and technology, three areas that have become important parts of her professional journey.
Her story is also connected with a wider interest in making cultural experiences more accessible and welcoming. Through Exhibits, Bakare has focused on helping people find exhibitions and encouraging audiences who might otherwise feel disconnected from museums and galleries to explore them. Her work therefore goes beyond creating a digital directory. It reflects a broader belief that cultural spaces should be easier for people from different backgrounds to discover and enjoy.
Bakare’s professional development also demonstrates the value of learning outside traditional educational routes. She attended a coding bootcamp at Le Wagon, where she developed practical skills in web development. Her LinkedIn profile records training in technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, Git, GitHub, Heroku and Ruby on Rails. She used this experience as a foundation for developing Exhibits.
Ilayda Bakare’s Mathematics Background
One of the most distinctive elements of Ilayda Bakare’s background is her connection to mathematics. Mathematics and art are sometimes viewed as opposite disciplines, with one associated with logic and the other with imagination. Bakare’s career challenges that distinction.
A mathematical background can provide useful habits of thinking, including attention to structure, problem-solving, pattern recognition and the ability to break complicated challenges into smaller parts. Those skills can be particularly valuable when developing technology. Building an app requires a person to understand how different components interact, how information should be organised and how users will move through a system.
At the same time, technology designed for cultural discovery needs more than technical functionality. It needs personality, visual appeal and an understanding of what makes people curious. This is where Bakare’s artistic side becomes important. Her career illustrates how analytical and creative thinking can complement each other rather than compete.
Her background in mathematics also makes her transition into coding especially notable. Although mathematics does not automatically make someone a software developer, the logical habits developed through mathematical study can provide a useful foundation for learning programming. Bakare subsequently taught herself additional coding skills and used them to create a product around a problem she personally cared about.
Ilayda Bakare as an Artist
Before becoming closely associated with Exhibits, Ilayda Bakare was also recognised for her artistic work. An exhibition profile described her as a Peckham-born artist with a mathematics background and a particular interest in intricate detail, Black representation and Afrofuturism. Her artwork has included reworking classical and Art Nouveau imagery to portray Black women, while mythology from different cultures has also influenced her creative work.
Her artistic interests provide important context for understanding the direction of her later work. Representation is a recurring theme in her creative identity. Her art has explored how Black women can be represented within visual traditions that historically have not always centred them.
Bakare has also described an interest in her Turkish and Nigerian heritage, with cultural influences appearing in her artistic imagination. Rather than treating identity and creativity as separate subjects, her work appears to draw from multiple cultural references and combine them into something personal.
Her creative interests have extended beyond traditional drawing and painting. The public profile describing her artistic practice notes interests including tattoo design, website building and knitting. This variety reinforces the impression of someone who enjoys learning through making things.
How Ilayda Bakare Came Up With Exhibits
The story behind Exhibits begins with a relatively simple problem. London has hundreds of museums and galleries, but keeping track of temporary exhibitions can be difficult. A person might hear about an exhibition only after it has finished, or discover an artist after missing an opportunity to see their work.
According to the Exhibits team, the idea was partly inspired by an exhibition Bakare missed at Tate Britain in 2018. The exhibition, titled “The Squash,” featured a performance by artist Anthea Hamilton. By the time Bakare discovered it, the exhibition had ended. She later learned more about Hamilton and found the experience particularly meaningful because Hamilton was also a Black woman. The missed opportunity contributed to the motivation behind creating a better way to discover exhibitions.
That experience illustrates an important entrepreneurial principle: many successful ideas begin with a problem that feels personal. Instead of approaching the issue as an abstract business opportunity, Bakare experienced the inconvenience herself. She understood what it felt like to discover something interesting too late.
The result was the decision to build a platform that could bring London’s exhibitions together in one place.
Building Exhibits From Scratch
Creating an idea is one thing; turning it into functioning technology is another. Ilayda Bakare spent years developing the technical skills necessary to build Exhibits. The Roundhouse describes her as someone who taught herself to code over four years while balancing two jobs and building Exhibits from scratch.
This part of her journey is particularly significant because it demonstrates persistence. Learning to code independently requires considerable patience. There are technical concepts to understand, errors to troubleshoot, interfaces to design and systems to maintain. When someone is also working other jobs, the process becomes even more demanding.
Bakare’s coding journey was supported by a period of structured learning at Le Wagon. Her profile states that she completed a nine-week intensive coding bootcamp in London in 2020. During that period, she worked with a group to create an early version of the Exhibits website and presented it to an audience of more than 300 people at the end of the programme.
That experience helped transform Exhibits from an idea into a tangible digital project. It also shows why her story is relevant to people interested in career changes, entrepreneurship and self-directed learning.
What Is Exhibits?
Exhibits is a cultural discovery platform created to help people find exhibitions taking place across London. The service brings together information about exhibitions at museums, galleries and other venues so users can discover opportunities that they might otherwise overlook.
The concept is straightforward but useful. London is one of the world’s major cultural capitals, with a huge range of museums and galleries. Yet the sheer number of venues can make discovery difficult. Exhibits attempts to reduce that fragmentation by giving people a more convenient way to see what is available.
The platform covers more than traditional art exhibitions. The Exhibits team has described its listings as including subjects ranging from art and history to science and unusual cultural experiences. The idea is that there should be an exhibition for many different interests, rather than assuming that museum culture is only for people who already consider themselves art enthusiasts.
That philosophy is important to Bakare’s work. The goal is not simply to tell people what exhibitions exist. It is to encourage curiosity and make cultural exploration feel accessible.
Ilayda Bakare and the Importance of Representation
Representation is another major theme connected to Ilayda Bakare’s creative and entrepreneurial work. Her earlier artwork focused on portraying Black women and exploring cultural influences, while the Exhibits project has also considered who feels comfortable entering cultural spaces.
The Exhibits team has explained that the sisters behind the project wanted to encourage people who might not naturally see museums and galleries as spaces designed for them. They have described organising community group trips in which people can attend exhibitions together in a relaxed environment.
This approach recognises that accessibility is not only about ticket prices, opening hours or physical access. Social and psychological barriers can matter too. Someone may be interested in art but feel uncomfortable going into a gallery alone. Another person may assume that museums are not intended for people from their background.
By encouraging group experiences and presenting cultural exploration as something enjoyable, Bakare and the Exhibits team have sought to make the experience less intimidating.
Ilayda Bakare and Her Sister Dilara
The Exhibits story is also a story of collaboration. Ilayda Bakare has worked alongside her sister Dilara Bakare as part of the Exhibits project. The sisters have described themselves as an Exhibits duo and have developed content around their experiences exploring exhibitions.
Their approach combines technology with storytelling and personality. Instead of simply presenting exhibition information in a database-like format, they have also created content showing themselves exploring cultural spaces.
This can make the concept more approachable. People often respond more strongly to seeing other people enjoy an experience than to reading a formal description of it. The sisters’ explorer-themed presentation gives Exhibits a recognisable personality and makes museum visits feel like adventures rather than academic assignments.
Their collaboration also demonstrates how entrepreneurship can grow from shared interests. The project was not created simply as a commercial technology product. It emerged from the sisters’ genuine enjoyment of exhibitions and their desire to help other people discover them.
Ilayda Bakare’s Experience With the Roundhouse Creative Business Accelerator
Another important stage in Ilayda Bakare’s journey was her participation in the Roundhouse Creative Business Accelerator. The programme provided creative entrepreneurs with support, mentorship and opportunities to develop their businesses.
The Roundhouse’s 2025 cohort information identifies Bakare as the founder behind Exhibits and highlights her four-year self-taught coding journey. It also describes Exhibits as a mobile app designed to list exhibitions across London’s many cultural venues.
Bakare publicly discussed the experience as an opportunity to improve the commercial side of Exhibits. Her posts show that she valued the opportunity to learn from specialists, meet other founders and work alongside people building projects in different fields. She also participated in a final pitch process with other members of the cohort.
This period is important because it illustrates another stage in entrepreneurship. Building a product is only the beginning. A founder also needs to understand audiences, business models, marketing, finance, partnerships and sustainable growth.
Ilayda Bakare’s Approach to Learning
One of the strongest themes in the story of Ilayda Bakare is continuous learning. Her career demonstrates that a person does not necessarily need to follow one fixed professional identity.
She studied mathematics, developed an artistic practice, learned coding, built a technology product and then entered entrepreneurship. Each stage added another skill to the next.
Her experience is particularly relevant in a modern economy where professional boundaries are becoming increasingly flexible. A mathematician can become a coder. An artist can become a technology founder. A creative person can learn business. A developer can build a cultural platform.
Bakare’s journey suggests that education does not have to end when formal education ends. Skills can be developed through bootcamps, experimentation, online learning, practical projects and collaboration.
Ilayda Bakare and Self-Taught Coding
The phrase “self-taught” is particularly relevant to Ilayda Bakare because coding became a tool through which she could turn her ideas into reality.
Rather than waiting for a large development team to build Exhibits, she invested years in learning the necessary skills. This does not mean she avoided formal education altogether. Instead, she combined her existing mathematical background with structured coding training and independent practice.
Her journey demonstrates an important advantage of learning technology as a creative person: independence. Understanding how software works can make it easier for an entrepreneur to prototype an idea, communicate with developers and recognise what is technically possible.
For Bakare, coding was not the ultimate destination. It was a means of building something connected to her interests.
Ilayda Bakare and the Future of Cultural Discovery
The rise of digital platforms has changed how people discover entertainment, restaurants, travel destinations and events. Cultural experiences are increasingly part of that digital discovery process.
Ilayda Bakare’s work with Exhibits fits into this broader shift. Museums and galleries may have extraordinary collections, but their audiences still need ways to discover what is happening. A temporary exhibition has a limited lifespan, meaning missing it can mean losing the opportunity permanently.
A platform that updates exhibition information regularly can therefore serve a practical purpose. Exhibits has stated that its listings are updated weekly by hand, reflecting an emphasis on keeping information current rather than relying entirely on static databases.
This approach also highlights the human side of digital products. Technology can organise information, but people still need to curate, interpret and present that information in ways that encourage curiosity.
Why Ilayda Bakare’s Story Is Inspiring
The story of Ilayda Bakare is inspiring because it combines persistence with creativity. She did not begin with a conventional technology-founder background. Instead, she developed the skills she needed over time.
Her path also shows that a person’s interests do not have to remain separated. Mathematics, art, coding and culture can become parts of one career.
Another lesson is the importance of solving real problems. Exhibits emerged from a genuine frustration: finding out about interesting exhibitions after they had already finished. Bakare turned that frustration into a question: could there be a better way?
That question eventually became a product.
Her journey also demonstrates the value of representation. By creating content around cultural spaces and organising group experiences, the Exhibits project has attempted to make museums and galleries feel more welcoming to people who may not traditionally see themselves reflected in those environments.
Ilayda Bakare’s Broader Impact
Although Exhibits is still a central part of Bakare’s public identity, the broader impact of her work can be understood through the example she provides to aspiring creators.
She represents a type of modern entrepreneur who does not wait for perfect conditions. Instead, she learns what is necessary and begins building.
Her experience can be particularly encouraging for people who have an idea but believe they lack the technical skills to develop it. Bakare’s career shows that technical knowledge can be acquired gradually.
Her story is also relevant to people who feel they have to choose between creative and analytical careers. Her work suggests that these abilities can coexist.
The technology industry increasingly values people who understand both users and systems. Cultural projects similarly benefit from people who can combine storytelling, design and technology. Bakare’s background places her at the intersection of these areas.
What Makes Ilayda Bakare Different?
What makes Ilayda Bakare different is the combination of experiences that she brings to her work.
Her mathematics background provides analytical thinking. Her art provides visual and cultural awareness. Her coding skills provide technical independence. Her entrepreneurial experience provides an understanding of how an idea can become a business. Her interest in representation gives her work a wider social dimension.
Individually, none of these elements is unusual. Together, they create a distinctive professional profile.
That combination also explains why the name Ilayda Bakare has attracted interest from people interested in technology, creativity, museums, entrepreneurship and representation.
Her journey is not simply about building an app. It is about using whatever skills are available to solve a problem that matters.
Ilayda Bakare and the Power of an Unconventional Career
Traditional career advice often suggests choosing one area and becoming highly specialised in it. While specialisation remains valuable, modern careers can also benefit from combining disciplines.
Ilayda Bakare’s career provides a useful example of this approach. Mathematics led to analytical skills. Art provided creative expression. Coding provided technical capability. Exhibits brought these interests together.
The result is a career that may be difficult to describe with one job title but easy to understand through its purpose.
Her story also demonstrates that unconventional paths can take time. The Exhibits project did not appear overnight. Public information about the project describes years of learning and development before the platform reached its current form.
This is perhaps one of the most important lessons associated with Ilayda Bakare: meaningful projects often require patience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ilayda Bakare
Who is Ilayda Bakare?
Ilayda Bakare is a London-based creative entrepreneur, artist and technology builder best known as the founder of Exhibits, a platform focused on helping people discover exhibitions across London. She has a background in mathematics and has developed coding skills through independent learning and formal bootcamp training.
What is Ilayda Bakare known for?
Ilayda Bakare is primarily known for creating Exhibits, a platform that brings information about London’s exhibitions together in one place. She is also known for her work as an artist and for combining mathematics, technology and creativity.
What is Exhibits?
Exhibits is a cultural discovery platform focused on exhibitions in London. It aims to make it easier for people to find exhibitions across museums, galleries and other cultural venues.
Did Ilayda Bakare learn coding herself?
Yes. Public information about Bakare describes her as self-taught in coding and says she spent several years learning to code while building Exhibits. She also attended a Le Wagon coding bootcamp in 2020.
What did Ilayda Bakare study?
Ilayda Bakare has a background in mathematics. Her public professional information also records coding education through Le Wagon and additional creative learning experiences.
Is Ilayda Bakare an artist?
Yes. Bakare has been recognised as an artist, with work exploring Black representation, Afrofuturism, mythology and detailed reinterpretations of historical artistic styles.
Who is Dilara Bakare?
Dilara Bakare is Ilayda Bakare’s sister and collaborator in the Exhibits project. The sisters have presented themselves as the team behind Exhibits and have worked on ways of making cultural exploration more approachable.
Why did Ilayda Bakare create Exhibits?
The project grew partly from frustration over missing temporary exhibitions and discovering interesting exhibitions only after they had ended. A missed Tate Britain exhibition became one of the experiences that helped motivate the idea.
Final Thoughts on Ilayda Bakare
The story of ilayda bakare is ultimately a story about curiosity, persistence and the willingness to learn. From mathematics and art to coding and entrepreneurship, Bakare has built a career by refusing to keep different interests in separate boxes.
Her work with Exhibits addresses a practical problem while also reflecting a broader belief that cultural experiences should be easier to discover and more welcoming to different audiences. Her background as an artist gives her a different perspective on technology, while her mathematical and coding experience gives her the ability to build technological solutions.
Perhaps the most valuable part of Ilayda Bakare’s journey is the reminder that people do not have to wait until they possess every skill before beginning a project. She identified a problem, learned what she needed to learn, experimented with technology and continued developing the idea.
Her career also shows that creativity is not limited to traditional artistic professions. Creativity can be expressed through software, entrepreneurship, cultural programming and community building. By combining those areas, Bakare has created a professional path that is both unconventional and highly personal.
As Exhibits continues to develop, the name Ilayda Bakare is likely to remain connected with the intersection of culture and technology. Her journey from mathematics and art to self-taught coding and cultural entrepreneurship provides an encouraging example for anyone with an idea who is willing to learn, experiment and keep building.
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