Parallel Sessions reimagines the traditional gallery model through a close collaboration between artist Olu Odukoya and architect Benni Allan, founding director of EBBA. Conceived in 2018 and realised in 2024, the project emerged from a shared desire to create a more flexible, intimate way to engage with art. The two met by chance in East London’s Hackney, where mutual interests in interdisciplinary work and challenging creative norms sparked the idea.

Located on Teesdale Street, the gallery is housed in a modest 3x3x3 metre unit. EBBA helped transform the space into a hybrid gallery-studio, using minimal interventions to prioritise the artwork. The design is intentionally pared back to be compact, tactile and direct, allowing each installation to take centre stage.
The programme is non-linear and time-based, with exhibitions presented as “sessions” that vary in length and form, grouped into evolving “seasons.” This structure allows for repetition, looping and experimentation, giving artists complete control over how their work is experienced.

Originally inspired by a concept for a replicable gallery, Parallel Sessions now includes a digital platform streaming live footage of exhibitions, further extending access. Ultimately, the project embraces limitations as a creative driver, offering a unique model for showcasing diverse, process-led work in both physical and virtual formats.