Week-long Residency with Njideka Akunyili Crosby
Apr 15, 2016

Students on a tour with artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby
Students on a tour with artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby

Teens from Lower Manhattan Arts Academy (LOMA) view and discuss Njideka Akunili Crosby’s billboard with the artist, March 2016. Photograph by Patrick MacLeod

During the week of March 22, 2016, Njideka Akunyili Crosby came to the Whitney for a week-long residency. She led an artist talk for Public Programs as well as a series of hands-on art making workshops with teens from our partnership school, Lower Manhattan Arts Academy (LOMA), our community partner, The Door, and the Whitney’s Youth Insights Leaders program. Akunyili Crosby’s work, Before Now After (Mommy, Mummy Mamma) 2015, is on view on the facade of 95 Horatio Street, across from the Whitney’s building and the southern entrance to the High Line.

Artwork from the collection of Njideka Akunyili Crosby
Artwork from the collection of Njideka Akunyili Crosby

Njideka Akunyili Crosby (b. 1983), Before Now After (Mama, Mummy and Mamma), 2015. Collection of the artist; courtesy Victoria Miro, London

Akunyili Crosby (b. 1983; Enugu, Nigeria) is a Los-Angeles based artist who makes large-scale, representational work that combines collage, drawing, painting, and printmaking. Her work fuses both Nigerian and American influences and source material, reflecting on contemporary African life (often her family) along with her experience as an expatriate living in the U.S, and the inherent difficulty of navigating these two realms.

Artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby working with students on a project
Artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby working with students on a project

Teens work on their collages, March 2016. Photograph by Patrick MacLeod

In each of her workshops, Akunyili Corsby first introduced her work to the teens and then discussed some of the artists that she has been influenced by, as well as the ways in which she appropriates images. She instructed the teens to find artworks online and use them as a guide for inspiration and for the composition of their own works.

Heather Maxson, Director of School, Youth, and Family Programs said: “It was amazing to work with Njideka. She shared information about artists who had influenced her work, such as Wangechi Mutu and Alex Katz. She encouraged the teens to think about artists or references from popular culture that were important to them, and then led them in this remarkable multi-layered collage project.”

Students learn how to work on image transfers with Njideka Akunyili Crosby
Students learn how to work on image transfers with Njideka Akunyili Crosby

Akunyili Crosby demonstrates an image transfer technique for Youth Insights Leaders, March 2016. Photograph by Andrew Kist

Akunyili Crosby also taught the teens an image transfer technique, then they created their collages using a variety of images, drawing, acrylic paint, transparency film, and other materials. The artist commented about the workshops: “I am always amazed at the range of what kids produce. I also like to give them room to explore all their ideas. I like to push them in open questioning sessions, and not give them too many rules. For me, I went to an art school where everything was very strict, you had to do things in certain ways and I think removing that obstacle can be really good for them.”

Sasha Wortzel, Coordinator of Teen Programs summed up the experience: “I really appreciated the care and attention that Njideka gave each student throughout the process. At the end of the workshop when they shared their collages, she offered such thoughtful and in-depth feedback to every teen, which was incredibly valuable.”

Check out more images of the workshops:

  • Aspiring artists meet
    Aspiring artists meet

    Youth Insights Leaders meet with Akunyili Crosby, March 2016. Photograph by Andrew Kist

  • A student working an art project with Njideka Akunyili Crosby
    A student working an art project with Njideka Akunyili Crosby

    Akunyili Crosby helps a LOMA teen with his composition, March 2016. Photograph by Patrick MacLeod

  • Teens from L O M A making collages
    Teens from L O M A making collages

    LOMA teens work on their collages, March 2016. Photograph by Patrick MacLeod

  • A student practices their drawing technique
    A student practices their drawing technique

    Drawing, March 2016. Photograph by Patrick MacLeod

  • Making a collage on paper
    Making a collage on paper

    Collage in progress, March 2016. Photograph by Patrick MacLeod

  • Using multiple materials for a collage
    Using multiple materials for a collage

    An array of materials, March 2016. Photograph by Andrew Kist

  • Learning how to transfer an image with Njideka Akunyili Crosby
    Learning how to transfer an image with Njideka Akunyili Crosby

    Transferring an image, March 2016. Photograph by Andrew Kist

  • Learning how to use a glue gun
    Learning how to use a glue gun

    Glue gun expertise, March 2016. Photograph by Andrew Kist

  • A teen talks about their artwork
    A teen talks about their artwork

    Explaining the image, March 2016. Photograph by Andrew Kist

  • A finished collage project
    A finished collage project

    Collage by a Youth Insights Leader, March 2016. Photograph by Andrew Kist

  • Two students show off their project
    Two students show off their project

    Finished work, March 2016. Photograph by Andrew Kist

  • A student explains her work to the class
    A student explains her work to the class

    A Youth Insights Leader talks about her work, March 2016. Photograph by Andrew Kist

Dina Helal, Manager of Education Resources

On the Hour

A 30-second online art project:
Maya Man, A Realistic Day In My Life Living In New York City

Learn more about this project

Learn more at whitney.org/artport

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