NNENNA Okore, born in Canberra, is an Australian-born Nigerian artist who lives in Chicago, and works at North Park University, Chicago. Her largely abstract sculptural forms are inspired by richly textured forms and colours within the natural environment.
Okore’s work frequently uses flotsam or discarded objects to create intricate sculptures and installations through repetitive and labour-intensive processes. She learnt some of her intricate methods, including weaving, sewing, rolling, twisting and dyeing, by watching local Nigerians perform daily domestic tasks.
The Times of London lists a visit to Okore’s exhibition at Kew as One of The Best Things to Do This Weekend.
Held in Kew’s Temperate House, and featuring striking installations, planting and skills-sharing events, this six-week festival shines a light on alternative approaches to modern wardrobes. The thought-provoking exhibition reveals the connections between plants, textiles and sustainability, and uncovers how nature inspires the clothes we wear and the futures we can create.
Okore is currently a Professor of Art at North Park University in Chicago, where she runs the sculpture programme. As an environmental artist, researcher, and teacher, Okore uses her eco-centered art practice to engender learning, artistic experience, and ecological awareness through art.
The venue of the exhibition, Kew Gardens, officially the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a world-renowned botanical garden and a UNESCO World Heritage site located in south-west London. It houses the world’s largest and most diverse collection of plants and fungi, featuring over 50,000 different species in its living collection, alongside millions of preserved specimens and an extensive botanical library. Visitors can explore iconic glasshouses like the Palm House and Temperate House, the treetop walkway, the Great Broad Walk Borders, and Kew Palace.
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