Abieyuwa Eigbobo
OMI, 2023
Artist Statement:
As a multidisciplinary artist, my work delves into the complexities of being a Black woman in contemporary society. Through the use of technology, I strive to create thought-provoking pieces that explore themes such as colorism, cultural pride, and mental health. My artwork is deeply rooted in my Esan & Igbo culture, and it is important to me to represent the narratives and lived experiences of Black women.
Throughout my artistic journey, I have been driven by the need to address the historical marginalization of Black women. It is my aim to showcase the resilience and beauty of Black women, while challenging the societal norms and restrictions that have been placed on us. Through my artwork, I seek to empower Black women to define our own standards of beauty and demand the rights and lives we deserve.
In recent years, I have experimented with blockchain technology and have begun minting my artwork as non-fungible tokens. I believe this to be a way for myself and my culture to receive proper credit and compensation in the future. My most recent projects have explored the intersection of fashion and graphic design, using vintage and retro hairstyles and makeup as a starting point. In these works, I celebrate Black beauty and also pay homage to women in my family.
As I continue my artistic journey, I plan to delve deeper into the expression of emotions such as anxiety, depression, and grief. Through various mediums such as creative coding and installation art, I hope to bring to light the reality that Black women, like everyone else, face issues with mental health. By being vulnerable and exploring these darker themes, I hope to open up conversations around mental health and create a space where Black women can feel seen and heard.
I believe that this exploration of darker themes through my art will also be therapeutic for me. It will allow me to process and make sense of my own emotions, while also providing a creative outlet to express myself. I hope that by sharing my journey through my artwork, I can help others who may be experiencing similar challenges.
BIO:
Abieyuwa Eigbobo is a Nigerian-American multidisciplinary artist and curator, who experiments with technology to explore the experience of being a Black woman in contemporary society. She works with a variety of applications and media including, but not limited to, photography, digital and analog video, and 3D modeling. She began minting NFTs in February of 2021. Her art has been showcased internationally in Art Dubai, the SCOPE International Contemporary Art Show, Elevate Festival and more. Abieyuwa recently curated the “Paradise” exhibition, an exhibition featuring 22 Black women in celebration of Women’s History month. The exhibition was showcased on the CNN International segment "Inside Africa" and was held at imnnotArt Gallery in Chicago. Abieyuwa is an active member of Accelerate Art and Friends With Benefits, and formerly contributed to the operations team of the African NFT Community. She recently founded After Paradise, an art curation and events company with a focus in digital art. After Paradise partnered with USURPA Gallery in Johannesburg to put on a month-long Women’s Month event in August 2023, where 27 African women’s art were displayed along with workshops and panels.