Amarachi Okafor

Amarachi Okafor (born 1977) is a Nigerian artist. Her works of art during her earlier years of practice have focused on culture, religion, history, gender relations and human sexuality. She has also used her art to comment on topical issues, like the spread of the Ebola virus in Africa.[1] Okafor is part of a group of artists who came from the University of Nigeria, and who are exploring more experimental forms of art.[2] Currently, she works in painting, sculpture and a form of public art collaborations that she refers to as relational meetings.[3] She now tends to look more at spirituality, humanity - human actions in the world and to society in the course of history, the impact and the nature of these impact to humanity.

Amarachi Okafor
Born1977
Umuahia
NationalityNigerian
EducationUniversity of Nigeria
AwardsUnesco-Aschberg artists’ residency, finalist in the 2014 National Art Competition

Life

Okafor was born in Umuahia.[4] In 2002 she attended a fine arts course at the University of Nigeria and in 2007, at the same University, held a master's degree in sculpture and curatorial practice.[5] She worked as a curator at NGA (National Gallery of Art) in Abuja between 2008 and 2014.[6] In 2007 she won a Unesco-Aschberg artists’ residency, and the Commonwealth Foundation Commonwealth Connections in 2010. In 2014, she was a finalist in the 2014 National Art Competition,[7] and won the Juror's prize that year.[8]

Work

Okafor's work has been described as poetic interpretations of socio-environmental issues. Her work using discarded plastic bags reference the abundance of waste as well as clusters of organic life-forms.[9]

Solo exhibitions
  • 2009 "Seven Days Live Art": exhibition of works of art in several places and in several days, Dalsasen, Dale i Sunnfjord, Norway.
  • 2009 "Open Studio to work in Progress at Nkd Dalsasen, Dale i Sunnfjord, Norway.
  • 2008 "Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno Wales West Africa", UK
  • 2007 "Europe at Financial Times, Babel Art Gallery, Trondheim. Lademoen Kunstnerverksteder
  • 2007 Open Studio, Norway, Norway

Collective shows
  • 2015 Biennale Jogja XIII,[10]
  • 2010 ‘Shared Perspectives' RAVY (RENCONTRES D'ARTS VISUELS DE YAOUNDÉ) Festival. Yaoundé- Cameroun
  • 2009 “The 1st International Festival of Contemporary Art of Algiers” (FIAC ) Musée National d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, The International Art Expo Nigeria, National Museum Onikan, Lagos.
  • 2008 ARESUVA 2008: International Conference Centre Abuja, Nigeria
  • 2008 Experimental frontiers: Society Through The Eyes of South African and Nigerian Artists. Vansa Western Cape Space, South Africa
  • 2008 “Art 4” Channel Four Television Corporation (“Channel 4”). London, UK
  • 2007 Guest Artists' Open Studios, Lademoen Kunstnerverksteder Trondheim, Norway
  • 2007 MFA Graduation Exhibition, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  • 2007 “Make-Op/Zombification” Interdisciplinary Theatre Performance, Goethe-Institut Lagos, Nigeria
  • 2006 “20th Century Art: a Story from Nigeria: An ‘Off Show” of Dak'Art, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar-Senegal
  • 2004 “Afrika Heritage”, Pan African Circle of Artists, Exhibition, Alliance Francaise, Enugu
  • 2004 “Visual Orchestra”, Alliance Francaise, Enugu
  • 2003 Heritage, Federal Capital Territory Council for Arts and Culture, FCT Abuja
  • 2002 “Women in Art Exhibition”, National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos mostra organizzata da Chinze Art Place, Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja Heritage, FCT Council for Arts and Culture, FCT Abuja bachelor's degree Award Exhibition, Fine Arts Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  • 2002 “Artytude” Art Theatre, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  • 2001 “Women in Art Exhibition”, FCT Council for Arts and Culture, FCT Abuja
  • 2001 “Footprints”, Ana Gallery, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Collections

Okafor's work is held in the Luciano Bennetton Collection.[11]

References
  1. Nnadozie, Uche (27 November 2014). "From Office to Studio,NGA Artists Preach Peace". Vanguard. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  2. Pinther, Kerstin (2012). "Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos". In Pinther, Kerstin; Förster, Larissa; Hanussek, Christian (eds.). Afropolis: City Media Art. Jacana Media. p. 146. ISBN 9781431403257.
  3. "About". Amarachi Okafor. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  4. "Amarachi Okafor". Imago Mundi. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  5. "Amarachi Okafor". We Face Forward. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  6. "Amarachi Okafor". The Equator. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  7. Abimboye, Michael (22 August 2014). "12 finalists emerge for National Art competition". Premium Times. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  8. "An Evening of Surprising Interventions". This Day Live. 7 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  9. Obodo, Eva; Anikpe, Ekene; Chukwumezie, Thomas-Michael E. (2014). "Social and Ecological Issues in the Works of Some Contemporary Sculptors". Art and Design Studies. 25: 12–13. S2CID 54534884.
  10. Wahyuni, Sri (13 November 2015). "Biennale Jogja: A Journey into the 'Hacking Conflict'". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  11. [Amarachi Okafor "Amarachi Okafor: Duo Totem Emmissaries"] Check |url= value (help). Luciano Bennetton Collection. Retrieved 23 December 2019.


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