David Adjaye accused of sexual abuse in Financial Times report – ARTnews.com

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On Tuesday, the Financial Times issued a statement It details allegations of sexual misconduct by three women against architect David Adje, who has designed several acclaimed museum buildings in recent years. After the report was published, Adje announced that he had stepped down from some of the roles he had taken on in London.

The women, whose names have been changed at their request, alleged that he sexually assaulted and harassed her and accused her firm, Adjaye Associates, of what they had. Financial Times It’s called a „toxic work culture.”

„All of them were black women in their forties at the time of the alleged abuse, and were single mothers, well-connected professionally and from influential families,” Financial Times reported. „All three women knew Adjaye prior to their employment and had mutual friends and acquaintances with him.”

Adjaye’s lawyer vehemently denied the allegations, saying Financial Times These women had „flaws of their own.”

„I absolutely reject any allegations of sexual misconduct, abuse or criminal wrongdoing,” Adjaye said in the release. „These allegations are untrue, distressing to me and my family and against everything I stand for.”

The statement continued, “Although fully consensual, I am ashamed to say that I entered into relationships that blurred the boundaries between my professional and personal life. I am deeply sorry. I would immediately seek professional help to learn from these mistakes to restore trust and accountability.

As stated therein The New York TimesAs a continuation of that Financial Times According to the report, Adje has left his post as architectural adviser to the Mayor of London, and work on a planned Holocaust memorial in the British capital has been suspended.

The Financial Times The report comes as Adje Associates plows ahead with several projects including a national cathedral in Ghana. It sparked controversy because of its price. However, all of Adjaye’s other projects have received an overwhelmingly positive response.

He has worked at art institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, and the Ashti Foundation in Lebanon. He also has a portfolio of upcoming buildings for institutions such as the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Princeton University Art Museum in New Jersey, the Africa Institute in Sharjah, the Museum of West African Art in Benin City, and the Kiran Nadar Museum in Nigeria. Art in Delhi.

Apart from all these, Adjaye also creates sculptures. Large-scale pieces are currently on view at the Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy and the Counterpublic Triennale in St. Louis.

None of the museums and arts festivals with upcoming buildings responded to a request for comment ARTnews.

Earlier this year, Adjaye was sued by one of his company’s former directors for „unfair dismissal” in January. In February, the Architects Magazine reported That the two settled out of court.