Abigail Nnaji

2018 Invited International Artist

Abigail Nnaji is a 2002 graduate of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria-Nsukka Enugu State Nigeria with a Bachelor Degree in painting. She started full studio practice in 2013. Her style is influenced by the academic and constant exposure through cultural interactions. She believes that expression should not be restrictive, rather a freedom of exploration should be employed in the creative process. Based on her experiments with paper she has been able to find new and unconventional application in her art by fusing it into her paintings through the use of paper cutting techniques. Prior to this, she had experimented with paper but in a different style.
Abigail has participated in several group exhibitions. She has won an award for her role in the positive portrayal of the female figure. Amongst these award and interactions are the Chinese Embassy's sponsored cultural exchange program to China (to learn Chinese Papercutting) and the second position in the Chinese Ambassador’s Art Competition. However, after her return, she was able to further develop more and intrinsic paper cutting designs in order to fit it into her style. She has also delivered commissioned pieces for private and corporate clientele further establishing her reliability and consistency as an artist and a contributing member of society. Some of her works are in private collection at home and abroad.
Her pieces feature themes in serenity, beauty, identity, and love, especially as she tries to capture activities that often explore social perceptions in a new light. She is a member of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN), Association of Professional Creative Artists and Designers in Nigeria (APCAD) and FERRUM - The Art House. She also lives and works in Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria.

Abigail learned of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival through a friend who came to Pensacola in October of 2017 as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program, a State Department program, and the Young Professionals Program of the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council.

Competitions Participated:
2016 - 2nd Prize Winner, Chinese Ambassadors Image Drawing Cup Competition, 2016

2017 - Top 100 finalists in Union Bank Centenary Challenge

Selected Solo Exhibition
2017: City People - Using Paper Cutting Technique, Cococafe, Abuja

Selected Group Exhibitions
2018: Red Alert, Int'l Day to end Drug Abuse, Kulturecode Art Hub, Abuja
2018: Press for Progress; Women Move On, Nike Art Gallery, Lagos
2018: UNWOMEN Int’l Women’s Day Exhibition, Nicon Luxury, Abuja
2017: Abuja Unlocked, US Embassy in Abuja, Café De Vie, Abuja
2017: Orange the World, German Embassy Ambassador’s Residence, Abuja
2017: China Through The Eyes of Nigerians, China Cultural Centre, Abuja
2017: NkoliKa-Nsukka Art School After 50 years (Jubilee Exhibition), Abuja and Lagos
2017: Be Bold For Change; Women Arise, Nike Art Gallery Lagos
2016: Ferrum: Exploring the Role of the Artist, Rele Gallery Lagos
2016: Art in the House: Bold, Brave, Beginnings, Blucabana Abuja
2016: Pledge for Parity; Be Seen, Be Heard, Exhibition Pavilion Abuja
2015: Ferrum: An African Story, Thought Pyramid Abuja-Nigeria
2015: Shades of Unity; Women Make it Happen, Transcorp Hilton Abuja
 

Meet Abby
Join us for an introduction and presentation with Abby
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts
Pensacola State College
Corner of 9th Avenue and Airport Blvd.

The event is free and open to the public.