3225 West Foster Avenue || Chicago, IL 60625 || info@nnennao.sg-host.com || 773 244 5622
EDUCATION
2005 M.F.A. Sculpture, University of Iowa.
2004 M.A. Sculpture, University of Iowa.
1999 B.A. Painting, University of Nigeria. (First Class Honors)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
2015- Professor, North Park University, Chicago, USA
2012-13 Fulbright Scholar, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
2011- 15 Associate Professor, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
2005-11 Assistant Professor, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
2005-05 Research Assistant, Library Information Arcade, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021
Bioplastic: Thing Power, B27 Gallery, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
2019
Plasmorganisms, Chicago Public Library Albany Branch, Chicago, USA.
2018
Guilty Pleasures, with Threewalls at Expo Chicago, Chicago, USA.
Embodiment, Sakhile&Me Gallery, Frankfurt, Germany.
2017
Ukwa Ruo Oge Ya O daa , October Gallery, London, UK.
Utùtú, Mattatuck Museum of Art, Watebury, CT, USA.
Anima, Legion Art CSPS Galleries, Cedar Rapids, USA.
Osimili, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, USA.
2016
Sheer Audacity, Installation at Memphis Brook Museum of Art, Memphis, USA.
When All Is Said and Done, Installation for ‘On the Wall at Monique Moloche Gallery, Chicago, USA.
2015
Owu, Arrowhead Gallery, Waubonsee College, Sugar Grove, USA.
Nkata, Krannert Museum of Art, University of Urbana-Champaign, USA.
On the Brink, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, USA.
2014
Twist and Turns, David Krut Gallery, New York, USA.
Fiber of Being, Welch School Galleries, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA.
Unfound, Beard Art Center Gallery, Indiana Wesleyan University, Indiana, USA.
Will You Walk With Me to the End of the Earth?, Carlson Tower Gallery, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
2013
Akaraka: What will be, Art Twenty One, Lagos, Nigeria.
Flow, Wheatbaker Hotel Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria.
2012
Transfiguration, Contemporary African Art Gallery, New York, USA.
2011
Nnenna Okore: New Works, Herron School of Art and Design Gallery, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA.
Shokoloko, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, USA.
Rush, Skidmore College Gallery, New York, USA.
Metamorphoses, October Gallery, London, UK.
Torn Apart, David Krut Projects, New York, USA.
On The Edge, Dittmar Memorial Gallery, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA.
2010
Life After, Noyes Art Center, Evanston, USA.
Textile, Blachere Foundation Art Center, Apt, France.
Recovered Energies, Bekris Gallery, San Francisco, USA.
Absurd Beauty, Northeastern Illinois University Gallery, Chicago, USA.
2009
Strings and Patterns, Viterbo University Gallery, La Crosse, USA.
Anyanwu, Carl A. Fields Center Gallery, Princeton University, Princeton, USA.
Twisted Ambience, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, USA.
Of Earth…Bark and Topography, Goethe Institut, Lagos, Nigeria.
2008
Ulukububa, October Gallery, London, UK.
Moonlight Tales, Tall Grass Gallery, Park Forest, USA.
Affrika West, Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno, UK.
2007
Reflection, Contemporary African Art Gallery, New York City, USA.
Sub-consciousness, Adam Hall Gallery, Wheaton College, Wheaton, USA.
2006
Betwixt and Between, Carlson Gallery, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
2005
Paper to Paper, Armature Gallery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
2004
Accumulations, Arts Iowa City, Iowa City, USA.
2003
Re-presented, Armature Gallery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
2002
Beyond the Lines, Didi Museum, Lagos, Nigeria.
2001
Metaphors, Alternate Space, Lagos, Nigeria.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021
Trauma, Triennale Brugge, featuring ‘Nnenna Okore: And the World Keeps Turning’, Brugge, Belgium.
Ecological Co-Development, 2021 Chengdu Biennale, Chengdu, China.
Columned Hall Exhibition, Stoa169, Polling, Germany.
The Invincible Hands, Yemi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos, Nigeria.
Natural Materials, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
Podium II, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
2020
Second Careers: Two Tributaries in African Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Ohio, USA.
31: Women, Daimler Contemporary, Berlin, Germany.
Prête-Moi Ton Rêve, Musée des Civilizations Noires, Dakar, Senegal
2019
Water, Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts, Cedarburg, WI, USA.
Transformed: Paper in Dimension, Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton, NJ, USA.
Second Careers: Two Tributaries in African Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Ohio, USA.
Sakhile&Me Gallery Exhibition, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, London.
2018
Abstract Minded: Works by Six Contemporary African Artists, August Wilson Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Abstract Minded: Works by Six Contemporary African Artists, Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art,
State University of New York, New Paltz, NY, USA.
2017
Abstract Minded, N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, Detroit, USA.
The Enlighteners , Palais des Papes, Musée du Petit Palais, Musée Calvet and Musée Lapidaire, France.
Beyond the Surface, with Assaf Evron and Leonard, curated by Cortney Lederer, Fashion Outlet of Chicago, Chicago, USA.
When the Heavens Meet The Earth, The Heong Gallery, Downing College, Cambridge, UK.
Weather or Not, That is the Question, Children’s Museum of the Arts, New York, USA.
Faculty Show, Brendel Library Gallery, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
2016
La mer/La mère, St Mary’s College, South Bend, USA.
Group Show, Art Expo, with Jerkins Johnson Gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago, USA.
Standing Out, Temple Muse, Lagos, Nigeria.
Summertime Group Exhibition, Jerkinks Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, USA.
Group Show, Art Market San Francisco, with Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, USA.
Group show, Art Dubai, with Sakshi Gallery, Dubai.
Finding Shelter: An Exhibition of Contemporary Fiber Art, Baum Gallery, University of Central Arkansas, USA.
2015
Exceptional: Handmade Paper Beyond Substrate, Minnesota Center for Book Art, USA.
The Contemporaries, Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Nigeria.
Works from Around our State, Evanston Art Center, USA.
Africa Africans, Museu Afro Brasil, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Faculty Art Show, Brendel Library Gallery, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
2014
Interwoven Histories, October Gallery, London, UK.
Brides of Anansi: Fiber and Contemporary Art, Spelman Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta, USA.
African Origins, Morton Fine Art, Washington DC, USA.
Faculty Art Show, Brandel Library, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
2013
Six Draughtsmen, Museum of Contemporary African Diasporic Art (MoCADA), New York, USA.
International Biennial of Lin de Portneuf, Quebec, Canada.
No One Belongs Here More Than You, Center for Contemporary Art, Lagos, Nigeria
Textura, Bekris gallery, San Francisco, USA.
2012
Inside-out/Outside-in, Two-person show, Visual Art Center Gallery, Mississippi State University, USA.
2011
Environment and Object in Recent African Art, Anderson Gallery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.
Transcending Integration, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, USA.
Environment and Object in Recent African Art, Tang Museum, Skidmore College, New York, USA.
2010
Scratch, presented by Sakshi Gallery at Latit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India.
(Re-) Cycles of Paradise, UN COP16, Cancun, Mexico.
29th Sao Paulo Biennial, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Textile, Blachere Foundation Art Center, Apt, France.
2009
(Re-) Cycles of Paradise, UN COP15, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Common Ground, Bekris Gallery, San Francisco, USA.
In Progress, Group show at Carlson Tower Gallery, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
Trash Menagerie, Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Salem, USA.
Paper to Pulp, Howard County Center for the Arts, Ellicott City, USA.
Transvangarde, October Gallery, London, UK.
Chance Encounters, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India.
Objects of A Revolution, Galerie Dominique Fait, Paris.
Trace/Memory, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, USA.
2008
Angaza Africa, October Gallery, London, UK.
Affrika West at Galeri Artspace, Caernarfon, UK.
Channel4 Art Exhibition, Channel4, Art4, London, UK.
Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary, Museum of Arts and Design, New York City, USA.
Refabrication, Carlson Gallery, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
Clay and Fiber, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, USA.
Joburg Art Fair, (sponsored by October Gallery) Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Trading Spaces, Binghamton University, Binghamton, USA.
2006
African Contemporary Art Exhibition, Dakar Biennale, Senegal.
2005
Twelfth SOFA International Exposition, Chicago, USA.
Faculty Show, Carlson Gallery, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
8th International Open Exhibition, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, USA
2003
Migrations, Legion Arts CSPS, Cedar Rapids, USA
Units, Legion Arts CSPS, Cedar Rapids, USA
2002
New Works, Armature Gallery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
2001
New Energies, Nimbus Gallery and Mydrim Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria.
1999
B.A Exhibition, Ana Gallery, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
GRANTS/AWARDS/RESIDENCIES
2018
Individual Professional Development Grant, North Park University, Chicago, USA.
2017
Research and Development Lab (RaD Lab) Award, Threewalls, Chicago, USA.
2012
Fulbright Scholar Award to Nigeria.
2011
Artist-in-residence/Teaching Fellowship, Skidmore College, New York, USA.
2010
Artist Residency, Jean Paul Blachére Foundation, Apt, France.
Artist-in-residence, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, USA.
2008
North Park University Individual Project Grant, Chicago, USA.
2007
Artist Full Fellowship at Global Art Village, Delhi, India.
Residency at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, USA.
2006
Art Omi International Residency, New York, USA.
UNESCO-Aschberg Fellowship for Artists (Gruber Jez Foundation), Mexico.
2005
North Park University Individual Project Grant, Chicago, USA.
2004
SFAI Residency, Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe, USA.
2002
Graduate Assistantship, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Emma McAllister Novel Scholarship, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Teaching Assistantship, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
1999
Valedictorian (Fine Arts), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
1994
First prize, UNIFEM Women’s Art Contest, Lagos, Nigeria.
1993
First prize, UNICEF African Child’s Day Art Competition, Mbabane, Swaziland.
SELECTED PUBLICATION
Okore, Nnenna. 2021. “A Green Patch on a Wasteland.” Rejoinder 6 (Spring). https://irw.rutgers.edu/rejoinder-webjournal/issue-6-climate-in-crisis/535-a-green-patch-on-a-wasteland.
SELECTED WORK REVIEWS
2021
12 Female Fiber Artists Transforming Space Through Textile, by Marcia Veiga, The Spaces.
50 Women Sculptors, Aurora Metro & Supernova Books,
2020
Nnenna Okore: Climate Change feature at Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Cape Town Green Map, 2018.
2018
Nnenna Okore: Capturing Life’s Fluid and Delicate Nature, Destig, Issue 3, 2018.
These 20 Female Artists are Pushing Sculpture Forward, by Tess Thackara, Artsy, July 30, 2018.
Nnenna Okore, Reviews, Sculpture Magazine, March Issue, 2018
2017
Between Fragility and Potency-A world of Sculptural transformation, by Elsa Guily, Intense Art Magazine, #3, October 2017.
2016
Nnenna Okore’s Sheer Audacity at the Brooks, by Elle Perry, Memphis Flyer, December 1, 2016.
Matter As Metaphor: The Art of Nnenna Okore, by Oliver Enwonwu, Omenka Magazine, Issue 4, Vol 1, 2016.
2015
A Sprint and a Stroll Through Krannert Art’s New Exhibition, by Rebecca Knaur, Smile Politely: Urbana-Champaign Online Magazine, September 15, 2015.
Krannert Art Museum features Solo Show of Chicago-based Artist, by Jodi Heckel, Illinois News Bureau, August 26, 2015.
Nnenna Okore , Inspirational Magazine, Vol 4, May 2015.
Paintings of a Caricaturists, Plus Two Sculptors, by Peter Plagens, Wall Street Journal, 2 January 2015.
2014
Wise Buys: 50 Women Artist Worth Watching, Art+Auction Magazine, September 2014
2013
Political By Nature: a 2500-word interview with Nnenna Okore, by Robert Preece, Sculpture Magazine, July/August 2013.
Finding inspiration in the most simple things…, by Faustina Anyanwu, C.Hub Magazine, December-February, Issue 2, Vol 1, 2012/13.
African Textiles Today, by Chris Spring, Smithsonian Book/British Museum Press, 2012.
Nnenna Okore: ‘Transfiguration’, by Holland Cutter, New York Times, November 9, 2012.
2012
We Face Forward…., by Jackie Wullschlarger, Financial Times, August 12, 2012.
Out of Africa Comes the Art of Noise, by Mark Hudson, The Telegraph, 18 July 2012.
Step Aside, Ferguson, African Art takes over Manchester, by Tajudeen Sowole, The Nigerian Guardian, June 15, 2012.
Okore receives Fulbright Award, by Nkechi Opurum, Daily Times, May 3, 2012.
2011
Communication for Change celebrates the launch of a new documentary series…, by Juliana Oladipo, Fab magazine online, July 11, 2011.
Waste Management/Things Torn Apart, by Kate McCrickard, Art South Africa, Volume 9.4, June 2011.
With Metamorphoses, Okore returns to the UK, The Nigerian Guardian, April 19, 2011.
Fragility, Elegance and Decay, by A.M Weaver, Ceramics: Art and Perception, Issue 83, March 2011.
2010
Nigerian Art Market….,says Nnenna Okore, by McPhillip Nwachukwu, Vanguard, November 25, 2010.
Material Meaning, by Jessica Hemmings, Wasafiri Magazine, Issue 63, 2010.
Into the Art of Africa, by Elizabeth Upper, Above Magazine, Winter 2009/2010.
2009
Contemporary African Art Since 1980, by Okwui Enwezor and Chika Okeke-Agulu, 2009.
New Order, by Chika Okeke-Agulu, Arise Magazine, Issue 6, October 2009.
Nnenna Okore’s art …. recycled material installation, by Jessica Kronika, The Examiner, August 11, 2009.
Visual Arts: Five artists ‘paper’ the arts center, by Mike Giuliano, Howard County Times, July 30, 2009.
Tom Torluemke and others at the Cultural Center, by Albert Stabler, Proximity Magazine, July 26, 2009.
Wakeful Souls, by Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, Next Newspaper, July 10, 2009.
From Rags to Riches with Art, by Vanessa Offiong, Weekly Trust, June 2009.
The goddess of small things …, by Victor Ehikhamenor, Next Newspaper, June 19, 2009.
Imitations of Nature, by Okechukwu Uwaezuoke, This Day, June 20, 2009.
‘Of Earth…’ Nnenna Okore stages home show, by Chuka Nnabuife, Nigerian Compass, June 16, 2009.
Nnenna Okore: Ulukububa at October Gallery, London, by Jessica Hemmings, Surface Design Journal, July edition, 2009.
Contemporary Art Auction in Lagos, by Emmanuel Anyifite, Next Newspaper, April 9, 2009.
Okore, Enwonwu, Onabrakpeya, Anatsui, Kentridge others in London’s art auction, by Chuka Nnabuife and Emmanuel Agozino, Nigerian Compass, April 7, 2009.
Groundbreaking African Artists In Spotlight At First British Auction Of Contemporary African Art At Bonhams, by Julian Roup, Bonhams Headlines, March 2009.
Art of Africa, by Simon de Burton, The Financial Times, March 28, 2009.
Artist to Watch: Nnenna Okore, by Katy Donoghue, Whitewall Magazine, Spring Issue, 2009.
Studio Visit with Nnenna Okore: Art from Discarded and Found Things, by Molara Wood, Next Newspaper, February 08, 2009.
2008
Ulukububa: Infinite Flow, by Bunmi Akpata-Ohohe, Africa Today, December 3, 2008.
Introduction: Ulukububa-Infinite Flow, by Polly Savage, Exhibition Catalogue, London, Oct 16-Dec 6, 2008.
Using Old Materials to Put a New Face on the Museum, by Roberta Smith, New York Times, September 26, 2008.
2007
Mind Openers-Women Artist in Africa, by Barbara Murray, Farafina Magazine, No 8, January,2007.
2006
The Yam is King, by Obi Nwakama, Farafina Magazine, No. 7, October, 2006.
As Dak’art Beckons, by Ugochukwu Uwaerzuoke, This Day, March 26, 2006.
2005
8th International Open, Exhibition Announcement by Woman Made Gallery, March 4, 2005.
2003
Chasing the Paper Trails with Vision, by Vidya Murthy, Daily Iowan, June 26, 2003.
2002
Plenty Art Shows, Lean Patrons, by Chukka Nnabuife, The Guardian, May 21, 2002.
2001
The Metaphors of Today, by Victor Ikwele, National Interest, August 19, 2001.
New Energies, Rebellion against the Old, by Ozolua Uhakheme, The Guardian, May 15, 2001.
The Real Values Beyond the Tags , by Okechukwu Uwaezuoke, The Comet, May 15, 2001.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2021
Panelist, Interdisciplinary Project for Advanced Study of Art and Life in Africa (PASALA), University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, IA, USA.
Guest Artist, Triënnale Brugge, Facebook Live Interview, Brugge, Belgium.
Guest artist, If It Wasn’t for the Women, St. Louise Art Museum, MO, USA.
Guest Artist, Ceramics Department, Cranbrook Academy of Art, MI, USA.
Panelist, The Arts: Fostering Shared Humanity, Horasis Global Meeting, Switzerland.
2020
Panelist, Second Careers: Two Tributes in African Art- at Cleveland Museum of Art, OH, USA.
2019
Facilitator, Upcycled Art Workshop, the African Music and Cultural Festival, Melbourne, Australia.
2018
Guest Speaker, The Art Summit, Lagos, Nigeria.
Facilitator, Nnenna Okore+RaD Lab workshop, Albany Public Library, Chicago, IL, USA.
Guest Artist, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL, USA
2016
Panel Discussion, with Karen Milbourne and Ato Malinda, AKAA Art Fair, Paris, France.
Booth Talk, Nnenna Okore in Conversation with Staci Boris, Expo Chicago, Chicago, USA.
Guest Speaker, Career Night at Wheaton College, USA.
2015
Visiting Artist, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.
Panel Discussion, with Sidney Kasfir, Chika Okeke-Agulu, and Ugochukwu Smooth Nzewi, Anya Fulu Ugo Symposium, University of Nigeria, Nigeria.
Panel Discussion, with Naomi W Gakunga, Ablade Glover and Bright Eke, Museu Afro Brazil.
Gallery Talk, in conversation with Michelle Grabner, Elmhurst Art Museum, USA.
2014
Guest Artist, Georgia State University, USA.
Guest Artist, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, USA.
Visiting Artist, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, USA.
2013
Visiting Scholar, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
2012
Panel Discussion, with Christa Clarke, Osi Audu, and Marcia Kure, Newark Museum, USA.
2011
Visiting Artist, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.
Visiting Artist, Herron School of Art and Design, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, USA.
Guest Artist, Tang Museum, Skidmore College, New York, USA.
2010
Guest Artist, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, USA.
Visiting Artist, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, USA.
Visiting Artist, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, USA.
2009
Guest Artist, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, USA.
Guest Artist, Princeton University, Princeton, USA.
Guest Artist, Viterbo University, La Crosse, USA.
Guest Artist, TimeLine Lecture series, Museum of African Art, New York City, USA.
2008
Visiting Artist, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
JURY EXPERIENCES
2021
Fiber Art International 2022, The Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, PA.
Earth Matters, Surface Design Association, Santa Fe, NM.
2017
Juror, Between the Seams, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2014
Juror, So Much More, Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago, IL.
Juror, Nonword + Upward, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL.
2010
Juror, Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL.
2008
Juror, 1st Annual Joseph Frasca Memorial Works on Paper Exhibition, Around the Coyote Gallery, Chicago, IL.
SELECT COLLECTIONS
Jorge M. Pérez Collection, Miami
EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Nigeria
Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, California, USA
North Park University, Chicago, USA
World Bank, Washington DC, USA
Brooklyn Academy of Music, NY, USA
United States Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria
Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, Nigeria
Halls Winery, Napa, CA, USA
Newark Museum, New Jersey, USA
Jean Paul Blachere Foundation, France
Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, USA
Royal Collections, Abu Dhabi, UEA
Art House Contemporary, Nigeria
Channel 4, London, UK
Renaissance Capital, Moscow, Russia
Sina Jina Collection, London, UK