Béné Jakel is a German-French artist and spatial practitioner based between London and Berlin. Their transdisciplinary practice moves across art, architecture, and design, grounded in activism and political practice. They currently teach at the Architectural Association in London and have previously taught at the Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Stuttgart and the AA Summer School. Having studied at both institutions, they have also served as a trustee on the AA’s Board of Directors (AA Council). Since 2023, their work has been shown internationally in group and solos shows, including at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 and Milan Design Week 2026, with forthcoming work at the Museum of Applied Arts in Frankfurt. Béné Jakel has also worked with a range of studios and collectives across art, design, and architecture in London, Berlin, and Nairobi. Through their practice bureau smash, Béné Jakel explores transformative approaches to material, objects, and space, engaging them as tools for subversive storytelling and as sites of decolonial and antifascist practice through relational and care-based approaches.

solo exhibitions

01.2025 — Collection “(Un)seen Landscapes”
Comissioned by studio ma:ta,
Lotus, London, UK

group exhibitions

05.2026 – 06.2026 —telling objects
in positions on freedom,
museum of applied arts Frankfurt, germany

04.2026 — entre nous 016
in coalescence, alcova,
Milan Design week 2026, Milan, Italy

05.2025 – 11.2025 — A Room of Our Own 1-6
In margerissima, curated by Nigel coats
Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, Venice, italy 

06.2025 — Material Hauntings
in Warehouse Exhibition,
Wehaveadog Studio, London, uk

06.2025 — Material Hauntings & A Room of Our Own 8-16
n/a Exhibition,
Architectural Association London, uk

Events

23.11.2025 — Conversations on Care, Space and Resistance
Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, venice, it
Panel Discussion
 
13.11.2025 — Speculative Worldbuilding
Public Programme Architectural association London, uk
Workshop

06.2025 — Carrier Bag Architecture
Summer School Architectural association London, uk
Lecture
 
06.2022 — Practice the Right to the City
Climate Justice Camp Stuttgart, ger
Workshop series

teaching

since 09.2025 — Tutor in the Diploma Programme
Core Studies elective Course “Relational Bodies – Spatial and Sculptural Design in Ceramics” at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, uk

06.2025 – 07.2025 — Tutor for Unit 1 “Carrier Bag Space”
Summer School the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, uk

10.2021 – 04.2022 — Tutor in Sculptural and Spatial Design
Course for B.Sc. students at the Institut of Arts (idg),
Department of Architecture and Urban Planning University of Stuttgart, Germany.

10.2017 – 03.2020 — Tutor in Unit „Nouveau Tour“
Main semester course for B.Sc. and M.Sc. students
at the Institut of Arts (idg) at the University of Stuttgart, Germany.

10.2018 – 03.2019 — Tutor in first Year
Tutor in the first year course “building construction”
at the Institut of Building Construction at the University of Stuttgart, Germany.solo exhibitions