Welcome to the Art News Africa Studio Visits - Nigeria - a podcast series about Nigerian artists and their work.
Nigeria's art scene serves as a home to some of the most prominent African artists of our time, with a rich heritage from Ben Enwonwu, Uche Okeke and Bruce Onobrakpeya, Peju Alatise, and many more. But today, its names such as Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Victor Ehikhamenor, Nengi Omuku, Alimi Adewale, and Modupeola Fadugba, who art-lovers from around the world are inspired by and collecting from.
Contemporary and modern Nigerian art is full of passion, humor, opinions, strength, and diversity. This and much more are what you will get insights into in this podcast series.
In this second episode, Jonas Schwarz Lausten speaks with Nengi Omuku, a highly talented Nigerian artist who received her formal art education at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art in London. With a keen interest in creating meaningful and impactful art, Nengi believes in the power of empathy as a driving force for her creative process. Upon returning to Nigeria in 2012 after her studies, Nengi was eager to reconnect with her homeland and found inspiration in collecting textiles, particularly the traditional "Sanyan." Through her art, Nengi explores the complexities of Nigerian culture and seeks to highlight the beauty and diversity of the country's traditions. Her work has been widely recognized locally and internationally and continues to significantly contribute to the world of contemporary art. She's exhibited at Kristin Hjellegjerde Galleries in the US and UK, Bangkok Art Biennale, World Trade Organisation Headquarters, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos, and the list goes on and on.
On the 4th floor in a modern Oniru building in Lagos, Nengi has set herself up in a bright and light space with large windows overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the city of Lagos on the other.
When I visited her, she was working on the last details of a massive piece for Art Basel in Miami - painted in her usual method on Sanyan.
Besides laughing a lot and being generous, she baked… not one cake but two different types when I visited her. And they were so good. She's just a lovely person.
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Follow Nengi Omuku on Instagram @nengiomuku
Music is from Pixabay and the theme song "Start Again" is by Nigerian singersong writer Falana. Sculpture on podcast cover by Alimi Adewale.