Tonia Nneji (b. 1992, Lagos State, Nigeria) is a contemporary artist that comes from a long line of traditional carvers and masquerade carriers. Following the family tradition of artistry, she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Visual Arts from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 2016. Known for her use of bold colours and intricate patterns, Nneji’s work explores the relationship between trauma and the female body. Drawing from her experience in dealing with personal health issues, she confronts a culture of suppression and silence on women’s physical and mental health, body autonomy and sexual harassment in a bid to create safe spaces where conversations could be held freely. Her work also investigates the nature of commemorative fabrics and the ways they represent and transcend notions of place and belonging. This preoccupation with body forms and textile material navigates cultural and social meanings of fabric in contemporary African societies while also exploring the protective qualities of clothing.
Solo Exhibitions include When Dusk Falls, Duo Show with Jamie Luoto, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin (2024); You May Enter, Reel Gallery Nigeria (2020)
Group Exhibitions include From Lagos to Seoul, Voda art gallery, South Korea (2023); Stop, Listen. CFHILL, Stockholm, Sweden (2021); Orita Meta. Rele Gallery, Los Angeles, USA (2021); Dancing in dark :mes, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London, England (2021); It’s a wrap, Rele gallery, Onikan, Lagos , Nigeria (2021); Young Contemporaries Alumni Exhibition, National Museum of Art, Onion, Lagos, Nigeria (2020); Young Contemporaries, Rele Art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria (2019); Afrika Savoies, Bassens, France (2019); It’s a wrap, Rene Art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria (2019); Wake Up Essence of Afrika, Gallery88, Miamibeach, Florida, USA (2018); Soul Attraction Revealed, Gallery88, Miamibeach, Florida, USA (2018); Sisters: The art Nigerian Women, Carnegie gallery, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Ohio, USA (2018); Emotions, a salon, New Jersey, USA (2018); Next of kin, Thought Pyramid, Ikon, Lagos (2017); Afro Modernism, Retro Africa Gallery, Abuja, Nigeria (2016); October Rain, National Museum of Art, Onion, Lagos (2016);
Highlights and Collections
Tonia Nneji’s work has been featured and can be found in publications of Forbes Africa, 30 under 30, Class of 2022; New York Times: From Lagos to Los Angeles, An African art Gallery arrives (February 17, 2021); Vogue, in the art of Tonia Nneji and Zohra Opoku, poignant narratives of healing, (13 November 2020); ‘The New Guard’, South African Art Fair relaunches as FNB art joburg, Harper’s Bazaar; Harper’s bazaar US: The New Guard. In Celebration of Black History Month; Article written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (February 2020); Nation Newspaper, ALERTS! Female visual artists on the rise, The Vanguard (2017); The Guardian newspaper: Nneji,The Fluidman and his peers, (October 8th, 2017); BBC Africa, International Women’s Day by Chimamanda Adichie. woman.ng : Anthonia Nneji Art speaks about struggles, she is not doing Art for Art sake, but also for life sake; Residency, Art Dubai Residency (2019); Recipient of the Ronke Ekwensi Fellowship, New Jersey (2018); Art Dubai (2022); Art Paris (2021); FNB Art Joburg (2019).