Nnenna Okore Australian-Nigerian, b. 1975

Born in Australia (1975) and raised in Nigeria, Nnenna Okore received her first degree in painting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1999 and went on to receive an MA and MFA at the University of Iowa. She received the Fulbright Scholar Award in 2012 and is currently a Professor of Art at Chicago’s North Park University. Her works -which have been exhibited in museums and galleries in Chicago, New York, London, Paris Cancun, Sao Paulo and Copenhagen – are mostly abstract and inspired by textures, colours and landscapes. She is fascinated by discarded materials and often uses diverse colours, textures, fabrics and materials to create sculptures and installations that are rich and layered in meaning. Her processes are inspired by her observation of ordinary Nigerian performing daily tasks and crafts.