“I am intrigued by lines, colors and forms”. Photo credit: Bara’ah J. - Pensacola, FL.

Abigail Nnaji is a Nigerian visual artist who graduated from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine and Applied Arts, majoring in painting. As an interdisciplinary artist, she explores different mediums to find connections and tell stories through them. She created paintings for her final year exhibition using plastics as an alternative medium. At the same time, the Uli motifs, synonymous with the Nsukka Art School and found in the Southeastern part of the country, became part of her style.

Growing up, she was influenced by her mother’s fashion business as she watched her cut fabrics to precision. With an interest in fashion and a degree in painting, she integrated both to create fashion-inspired paintings depicting styles that cut across different cultures in a bid to share their stories. Her paintings depict the beauty and experiences of the female gender, addressing issues such as gender inequality, violence against women and girls, low income, and childcare while challenging perceptions of the feminine body.

In 2016, she was sponsored by the Chinese Embassy for a short course on “The Basics of Chinese Paper-Cutting Technique” in China. As a painter, Abigail fused the paper-cutting technique to her work because its precision resembled fabric cutting. In 2018, she was selected, based on her technique, as the first African to be the Invited International Artist for the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival at Pensacola-Florida, USA. 

Predominant in her paintings is the afro hairstyle, symbolizing ‘Black Pride’ and the reclamation of roots. Abigail creates her painting using acrylic on canvas, paper, and fabric, incorporating paper-cutting technique to add highly textured, unique designs.

By 2020, Abigail started creating sculptures and installations in response to issues relating to human existence and connections. As an artist interested in community service/development, her themes focus on immigration, community, and promoting mental health. She is passionate about advocating for women’s rights and girl-child education through art and storytelling. Also, she created a few projects at the WSU Pullman Campus to support mental health and foster social engagements. She connects with everyday people using reusable materials through interdisciplinary practice. Abigail is a 2025 MFA candidate at the Department of Art, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

Abigail’s works are in various collections, both private and public. One of her works is at the prestigious Yemisi Shyllon-Museum of Art in Lagos-Nigeria, at the Embassy of Spain Residence in Abuja, Inatai Foundation Seattle, Washington, and another at the City of Pensacola, Florida. She has participated in various exhibitions and some solos to her credit. She is a member of the Association of Professional Creatives and Designers of Nigeria (APCAD) and the immediate past National Secretary of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN).

Artist Statement

Intrigued by lines, colors, and forms, my current works respond to the challenges of human existence and connections through themes of immigration, community, and the female gender, explored through paintings, installations, and sculpture.

My paintings depict the struggles and experiences of the female gender, addressing issues such as gender inequality, violence against women and girls, low income, and childcare while challenging perceptions of the feminine body. Predominant in my works is the Afro hairstyle, symbolizing ‘Black Pride’ and the reclamation of roots. I create my paintings using acrylic on canvas, paper, and fabric, incorporating paper-cutting techniques to add highly textured, unique designs.

My sculptures and installations are free-standing or hung on supports, shaped through folding, crumpling, wrapping, contouring, and squeezing to depict challenges such as cultural shifts, financial obstacles, human rights, poverty, discrimination, and language barriers. I employ techniques such as tying, dyeing, mold making, printmaking, and stitching to transform these forms into art forms that communicate to my audience. By using repurposed materials like used coffee bags, paper, and fabric, I connect with the lives and stories of everyday people, celebrating their experiences and resilience through storytelling.

I also incorporate local Uli motifs from Southeastern Nigeria as design elements and symbolic language, embedding identity in these works. I believe that art is a universal language, and I aim for my works to spark dialogue, allowing each viewer to connect to their own experiences through my works.