Nnena Kalu
Over the last two decades, Nnena Kalu has created a large body of sculptural and two-dimensional work and developed a live, performative element to her art practice, creating site-specific installations.
Through repetitive and durational processes, Nnena explores space, scale, texture, and colour, constructing a dynamic relationship between her body and material. Nnena’s sculptural works are a direct expression of her physical movement and internal rhythm. In a constant state of flux, pieces are made, dissembled then remade for each presentation. They frequently begin with compact ‘cocoons’ of textiles and paper tightly packed in colourful cellophane. Repeated forms then build organically through extensive binding and wrapping with layers of paper, tapes, and lines of unspooled VHS tapes.
Nnena’s two-dimensional works are also viewed as sculptural explorations of space dictated by the length and reach of Nnena’s arms, as well as the size of the paper. Drawings and paintings are frequently produced in pairs, the second an echo of the first, a rhythm is built up and multiple layers are constructed. As with Nnena’s sculptural works, the drawings are an exploration of continuous line, shifting and ever-evolving forms.
Exhibitions
- Open House, Studio Voltaire, London, 2023 (group show)
- Tageldimde/Middlegate, Geel, Belgium, 2023 (group show)
- Trickster Figures: Sculpture and the Body, MK Gallery, 2022 (group show)
- Allied Editions, House of Voltaire, Frieze London, London, 2022
- Infinite Drawing, Deptford X, 2022 (solo show)
- To all the Kings who have no Crowns, Carl Freedman Gallery, 2022 (group show)
- Open House, Studio Voltaire, 2021 (group show)
- Summer Exhibition 2021, Royal Academy of Arts, 2021 (group show)
- Evolving Echoing Entities, Jennifer Lauren Gallery, 2020 (online group show)
- Fair Vanity, Summertime Gallery, New York, USA, 2020 (group show)
- Nnena Kalu: Studio Voltaire elsewhere, Old Burlington Street, 2020 (solo show)
- Nnena Kalu: Wrapping, Humber Street Gallery, 2019 (solo show)
- Outside In: Environments, Piano Nobile Kings Place, 2019 (group show)
- TUBE LINES, Tate Exchange, 2019 (group show)
- Outside In: Discover, Cerno Capital, 2018 (group show)
- Spectrum Arts Prize, Saatchi Gallery, 2018 (group show)
- Nnena Kalu, Glasgow International, 2018 (solo show)
- Spring Syllabus, J Hammond Gallery, 2018 (group show)
- Voltaire Open, Studio Voltaire, 2017 (group show)
- Paris Outsider Art Fair, Hotel du Duc, 2016 (group show)
- Threads Contemporary Textile Open, Salisbury Arts Centre, 2016 (group show)
- Magical Offspring, Geddes Gallery, 2016 (group show)
- Imagine if That Said…, Safe House II, 2016 (group show)
- Voltaire Open, Studio Voltaire, 2016 (group show)
- Radical Craft: Alternative Ways of Making, Pallant House Gallery followed by UK tour, 2016 (Group Show)
- Capharnaum, Theatre de Liege, Installation alongside 3 other artists, 2016 (group show)
- Paris Outsider Art Fair, Hotel du Duc, 2015 (group show)
- Open House, Studio Voltaire, 2015 (group show)
- Parallel Lines, Area 44, 2014 (group show)
- The Trouble with Painting Today, Pump House Gallery, 2014 (group show)
- Dizziness of Freedom, Bermondsey Project, 2014 (group show)
- Open House, Studio Voltaire, 2013 (group show)
- Side by Side international exhibition, Southbank Centre, 2013 (group show)
- Dreamcatcher. Moment in Time. Part of Shape in the City, Gracechurch Street, 2013 (group show)
- Uninterrupted, Shape Arts, 2011 (group show)
- Under Glass, University College Hospital, 2008
- 18 Drivers, Studio Voltaire, 2005
- Big Show, Studio Voltaire, 2004
Awards
Acquisitions
Biography
Nnena has developed her artistic practice at ActionSpace’s studio in Studio Voltaire since 1999 and is an important member of both Studio Voltaire and ActionSpace’s artistic communities. Over 20 years Nnena has created a large body of sculptural and two-dimensional work and developed a live, performative element to her art practice, creating site-specific installations.
Nnena has exhibited nationally and internationally including three major solo exhibitions; an acclaimed solo presentation at Glasgow International in 2018 with Project Ability, Wrapping at Humber Street Gallery, Hull in 2019 and Nnena’s first major London solo commission for elsewhere Studio Voltaire’s offsite programme in 2020. Nnena worked live in-situ for all three solo exhibitions, with sculptural forms in continuous production, being made and remade throughout the live installs.
Nnena’s sculptural installations begin with compact ‘cocoons’ of textiles and paper tightly packed in colourful cellophane. Repeated forms are then built with extensive binding and wrapping with layers of paper, tape and lines of unspooled VHS tapes, creating monumental installations.
Nnena received 3 significant awards in 2021 to develop her professional arts practice: the Mark Tanner Sculpture Grant, Paul Hamlyn Awards for Artists and the LOEWE FOUNDATION / Studio Voltaire Award, which awarded Nnena her own studio at Studio Voltaire for two years. Nnena was invited by Yinka Shonibare to create new sculptural work for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021 and featured in the accompanying BBC documentary. In 2022 Nnena exhibited both sculptural and two-dimensional pieces in the group exhibition, To all the Kings who have no Crowns at Carl Freedman Gallery, Margate where Nnena created two large-scale drawing works directly in the gallery during her first live public drawing event.
Nnena’s works on paper are a direct expression of her physical movement. They are sculptural explorations of space dictated by the length and reach of Nnena’s arms, as well as the size of the paper. In the making of these works, which are often produced in pairs, the second an echo of the first, a rhythm is built up and multiple layers constructed. As with Nnena’s sculptural works, the drawings are an exploration of continuous line, shifting and ever evolving forms. Nnena’s first solo drawing installation commission Infinite Drawing for Deptford X 2022, presented her drawings as layered, continuous and immersive works. For the Shade Podcast Interludes: Mandala Nnena’s intense and rhythmic drawing process was transformed into a soundscape by sound artist Axel Kacoutie. Nnena’s drawings are held in private collections internationally.
Press & Publications
- Thinking is Making: Objects in a Space, Mark Tanner Sculpture Award, Black Dog Press, 2023
- Outside In: Exploring the Margins of Art, Marc Steene, Lund Humphries, 2023
- Interludes: Mandala, Shade Podcast, 2022
- LOEWE FOUNDATION / Studio Voltaire Award Artist Profiles, LOEWE, 2022
- Noncomformers: A New History of Self-Taught Artists, Lisa Slominski, Yale University Press, 2022
- ActionSpace: Nnena Kalu, Talk Art Podcast, 2022
- Nnena Kalu, artist webpage and film, SHIFT, Jennifer Lauren Gallery, 2021
- Alice Channer on Nnena Kalu, Alice Channer, Studio Voltaire elsewhere, 2020
- Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition BBC documentary, 2021
- Works to know in the 2021 Summer Exhibition, Alayo Akinkugbe, Royal Academy of Arts, 2020
- Nice To Meet You, Artist Profile: Nnena Kalu, Slominski Projects, 2020
- Nnena Kalu’s Chrysalides of Material Quietly Evolve in Mayfair, Ella Fleck, Frieze, 2020
- Nnena Kalu Weaves a Wild Web of Sellotape and Wool, Louise Benson, Elephant Magazine, 2020
- Nnena Kalu creates organic forms for ‘elsewhere’ on show at Studio Voltaire, London, James Zatka-Haas, Disability Arts Online, 2020
- Nnena Kalu, INSIDE THEIR STUDIO: Artists with Disabilities and Their Collaborators, Ikouii Creative, 2020
- The time of her life: how Nnena Kalu turned Patrick Swayze videos into art, Tom Emery, The Guardian, 2019
- Glasgow International 2018: recommended shows and works from across the festival, Chris Sharratt, a-n, 2018
Films
Workshops
- Watch This Space, Wandsworth Fringe, Southside Shopping Centre 2017
- Co-workshop Leader, Wellcome Trust, 2016
- Watch This Space, Wandsworth Fringe, Southside Shopping Centre 2016
- Workshop series, JFK School, 2016
- Workshop leader, Radical Craft, 2016
- Watch This Space, Wandsworth Fringe Festival, Southside Shopping Centre, 2015