Nigeria-
African Artists have for long taken their craft abroad, though through exhibitions and tours. Nnamdi Okonkwo stands out as an exceptional sculpturist, who has built himself a name through his delivery in telling on of African stories.
Born 55 years ago, in Eastern Nigeria, amongst three children. Okonkwo currently resides in Fayetteville, Georgia with a wife and three children.
As far back as I can remember I have always been drawn to art. Later on, I realized that my artistic sensibilities were best expressed in the three-dimensional art of sculpture. Around this same time I was introduced to basketball, which suited me well as I am six feet nine inches tall.
– Nnamdi Okonkwo
With him currently working full time out of his studio in Fayetteville, Okonkwo’s sculptures which are made of clay work, while others are out of Bronze; and tell on great African stories, of great resilience and power expressed by mainly African women.
After obtaining a Degree in painting in Nigeria, he ventured into basketball, which led him to the United States.
I was recruited by BYU-Hawaii where I played from 1989-1993 and graduated with a BFA in Sculpture.
– Okonkwo explains
Here he immediately, he enrolled in the graduate program at BYU-Provo where he received an MFA degree in sculpture in 1997.
Okonkwo’s work is represented in galleries across the country, and his large-scale monumental works can be seen in individual and public sculpture gardens as well.
