I am a Nigerian-American artist, deeply intertwined with the world of artistic expression from a young age. I grew up around poets, painters, potters, weavers, and a father who specialized in teaching non-Western art history. I took ownership of my artistic journey at the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire, where I majored in Biology and Art.
I immersed myself in the world of creation, experimenting, and self-teaching through books, and online sources, shadowing and collaborating with local talents on projects such as music videos and photoshoots, and utilized my access to mixed media equipment to learn about types of cameras, lighting equipment, and more.
My passion for expression through mixed media and my identity as a Nigerian American fueled my desire to produce meaningful and inspiring art that celebrates local cultures and amplifies BIPOC communities' diverse identities and experiences while sparking curiosity about lives outside of our own and exploring my relationship with my identity.
During my senior year, I secured a grant to create "Ndani Eau Claire," a documentary capturing the experiences of three African international students as they adjusted to life during the COVID-19 pandemic, political unrest in the US and their home country, and their quest to find community in a predominantly white university.
The intimate process of creating this documentary solidified my dedication and passion for storytelling and actualizing my vision. I built every aspect of the documentary myself, serving as the videographer, audio engineer, editor, video colorist, producer, director, and more. I hosted multiple sold-out public screenings for the documentary and
Post-graduation, I became a photojournalist at Kare 11, covering breaking news in the Twin Cities and eventually spent some time at MONO as a video editor intern, I pivoted to becoming a freelance multimedia artist and embarked on projects with local BIPOC creatives and organizations.
As part of my artistic endeavors, I have also served as an advocate for artists of color, participated in many panel discussions where I discussed the experiences, and adversities unique to artists of color, and underscored the importance of centering and highlighting our communities in our work. I strive to inspire, uplift, and bridge communities, embracing artistic expression as a powerful tool for connection and understanding.
Publications