Kasmin Gallery presents Nengi Omuku’s first solo exhibition in New York. The exhibition, titled ‘Wild Things and Perennials’, showcases a new body of eight captivating oil paintings on the traditional Nigerian textile sanyan. At the heart of Omuku’s practice is a fascination with the interplay between interior and exterior, figure and ground. Her impressionistic canvases and richly hued palettes create enveloping spaces that serve as backdrops for her loosely rendered individual and group portraits. Through this blending of elements, Omuku delves into themes of refuge and stillness, weaving in personal narratives drawn from her recent experiences in Lagos, London, New York and during her residency at Civitella Ranieri in Italy.
This new body of eight oil paintings develops Omuku’s vision of painting as a constant and sustaining force in a perpetually changing world. ‘Wild Things and Perennials’ coincides with the artist’s ongoing solo museum exhibition, ‘The Dance of the People and the Natural World’, at Arnolfini, Bristol, United Kingdom. This exhibition shows Omuku’s human figures blend seamlessly with nature, exploring the relationship between individual and collective thought, belonging and psychological spaces that transcend traditional Western landscape painting. This has been running since the 29th of June and will run until the 29th of September 2024.
Omuku’s impressionistic landscapes and distinctive, rich color palettes provide enveloping spaces for the artist’s loosely rendered individual and group portraits. Blending interior and exterior, figure and ground, Omuku explores themes of refuge and stillness interwoven with personal narratives drawn from her recent experiences in Lagos, London, New York, and in residence at Civitella Ranieri, Italy. With works suspended from the ceiling, the installation activates the gallery architecture while offering viewers a space of reprieve from the motions of daily life.
Across this exhibition, Omuku’s perennials emerge as fixtures that endure through celebration and crisis alike. These include the artist’s depictions of plants, flowers, and spectacular skies as well as the enduring presence of her community. The artist’s distinctive visual language and her ability to weave together themes of identity, resilience and the human experience have earned her growing recognition on the international art scene. ‘Wild Things and Perennials’ opened on the 4th of September and will run until the 24th of October 2024 at 509 West 27th Street, New York.
