1 54 forum 2014 christine eyene in conversation with billie zangewa and marcia kure
Marcia Kure (born 1970, Kano State, Nigeria) is a U.S.-based Nigerian artist known primarily for her mixed media paintings and drawings. She trained at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka under Obiora Udechukwu—a leading figure of the "Nsukka School"—and graduated with a B.A. in painting in 1994. She has had several one-person exhibitions in Nigeria, Germany, and the United States. She participated in the 7th Sharjah Biennial (2005), the 2nd Seville International Biennial of Contemporary Art (2006) directed by Okwui Enwezor, and the La Triennale, Paris organised by Enwezor.
Her early work focused on political violence and the agency of women in patriarchal society. More recently her work has been concerned with themes related to motherhood, haute couture fashion, hip-hop aesthetics, and popular tales. She was awarded the Uche Okeke Prize for Drawing (1994). She is represented by Susan Inglett Gallery, New York and Purdy Hicks Gallery, London.
1998: "Die Frau. Der Fisch. Der Hase: Aquarelle und Gemälde". AK Kaya der VHS/Ausstellungsraum Weihersbach/Herzogenaurach/Iwalewa Haus,Bayreuth, Germany.
1997: "SONGS FOR MOTHER and other works", The Teaching Gallery, University of South Florida,Tampa, USA.
1996: "MARCIA KURE- Recent Works", Alliance Française, Kaduna, Nigeria.
1996: "BLICK ZURÜCK – NACH VORN", Art Arc Galerie, Bayreuth, Germany.
1994: "MARCIAKURE: Paintings and Drawings". Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Group Exhibitions
2017 "WE CALL IT "AFRICA", Artists From Sub-Saharan Africa", Officine dell'Immagine, Milan, Italy
2015 "You Love Me, You Love Me Not: Arte contemporânea na Coleção Sindika Dokolo" Galeria Municipal Almeida, Porto, Portugal
2015 "Body Talk: Feminism, Sexuality and the Body in the Work of African Women Artists," WIELS Contemporary Art Center, Brussels, Belgium; FRAC Lorraine, Metz, France; Lunds konsthalle, Lund, Sweden
2014 "Image of the World Workshop," Imago Mundi-Nigeria," Dakar, Senegal
2012: "Intense Proximity", La Triennale, Palais de Tokyo, Paris
2011: 2011: "Romare Bearden/Marcia Kure", Essie Green Galleries, New York City
2011: "Radical Drawing", Purdy Hicks, London
2011: "9th Biennial Exhibition", A.I.R. Gallery, New York
2010: "Esopus 14: Projects", Esopus, New York. 2009
2010: "Undercover: Performing and Transforming Black Female Identities", Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta,USA
2009: "Undercover: Performing and Transforming Black Female Identities," Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
2006: "2nd International Biennial of Contemporary Art", Seville, Spain
2006: "DRAW•ING (dro’ing) n.", BravinLee Programs, New York
2006: "Africome – Focus Afrika" In co-operation with Bundeszentrale fur politische Bildung, Neue Galerie, Landshut, Germany
2005: "7th Sharjah International Biennale", Sharjah, U.A.E.
2005: "Heal the World", Ibis Hotel, Dubai, U.A.E.
2005: "Textile Catalysts: SHIBORI Shaping the 21st Century", Tama At University Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2005: "Propeller, Exhibition of 7 promising artists of African descent", Steve Turner Gallery, Beverly Hills, USA
2005: "Aqua Art Miami", Aqua Hotel, Miami Beach
2005: "Gallery Art Korner", The Hague, The Netherlands
2005: "The Future is on the Table", A project organised by Gwyléne Gallimard and Jean Marie Mauclet of Fast and French, Charleston, SC, USA
2005: "Homeland.Wonderland: Drawings by Chika Okeke-Agulu and Marcia Kure," The Richard F. Brush Art Gallery, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, USA
2004: "My Journey Yours", Youth Art Connection, Atlanta, USA
2004: "FILES PROJECT", Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León (MUSAC), Madrid, Spain
2004: "The Beaded Prayer Project", Montreal Arts Interculturels (MAI), Montreal, Canada
2004: "fl ex_re-fl ex.impact", Galerie Peter Herrmann, Berlin, Germany
2004: "Female Artists from the African Diaspora" (with Otobong Nkanga and Senam Okudzeto), Galerie Peter Herrmann, Berlin, Germany
2003: "The Black President: The Art and Legacy of Fela Anikulapo Kuti", The New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco; Barbican Art Galleries, London; Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, USA
2002: "Art for Aid", Fulton County Government Atrium, Atlanta, USA
2002: "Painted Doors", 14th Annual Decatur Arts Festival, The Gazebo, Decatur City Center, Atlanta, USA
2001: "Colors of Africa: Contemporary Perspectives", The Art Gallery, University of New England, Portland, ME, USA
2001: "Recent Paintings" (with Chika Okeke), The Living Room Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2000: "Women to Women: Weaving Cultures, Shaping History", Indiana State University Art Gallery,Terre Haute, IN. (traveling) (with Sokari Douglas Camp, Ndidi Dike, and Iyabo Abiola)
2000: "Snapshot," The Contemporary Museum, Baltimore, USA
1999: "Synthesis", British Council Hall, Kaduna, Nigeria
1999: "Seeds and Proverbs" (with Chika Okeke), Kubatana Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1997: "Young Masters", Signature Art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria
1997: "CROSS / ING: Time. Space. Movement". USF Contemporary Art Museum/ Museum of African American Art, Tampa; Track 16 Art Gallery,Santa Monica, USA; The Schmidt Center Gallery/Ritter Art Gallery, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton; City Gallery East, Atlanta, USA
1996: "Galerie Lindern", Lindern, Germany. OSHOGBO-NSUKKA, Rathaus der Stadt Gersthofen, Gersthofen, Germany
1996: "Bestart ‘96", National Gallery of Art, Lagos, Nigeria
1995: "IMPACT", Aba Town Hall, Aba, Nigeria
1995: "Fragments and Songs" (with Chika Okeke), Goethe-Institut, Lagos, Nigeria
1995: "ULI ART: Master Works, Recent Works", Skoto Gallery, New York City
1995: "A WOMAN’S VIEW: Equality, Development and Peace", The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA
1994: "Bestart ‘94", Goethe-Institut, Lagos
1992: "Works from the Workshop at Nsukka (Prints) and Auchi (Paintings)", Goethe-Institut, Lagos, Nigeria
1991: "Grafi k aus Nigeria", Atrium Galerie, Berlin, Germany
1990: "Prints from Nsukka", Goethe-Institut, Lagos, Nigeria
Publications
Position International Arts Review of Books 1: (2001) Illustrated Karim Traoré, Die Verlobte Des Marabut: Märchen & Mythen aus Westafrika. Aachen: Misereor Medien, 1999.
Two Paintings in 2002 Multichoice Africa Calendar, African Artists of the Future. Illustration in 2003 UNCBD/UNFCCC/ UNCCD (The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) Calendar.
Other drawings published in: Okike: African Journal of New Writing Nsukka Journal of The Humanities Graffiti Festac News.
Books/Monographs
Enwezor Okwui, Chika Okeke-Agulu, "Contemporary African Art Since 1980," Damiani, 2009.
Ogbechie, Sylvester, "Zaria Art Society and the Uli Movement, Nigeria," In N’Gone Fall and Jean Loup Pivin (eds.), An Anthology of African Art:
The Twentieth Century. New York: DAP/Distributed Art Publishers Inc., 2002, 249.
Jegede, Dele, Women to Women: Weaving Cultures, Shaping History. Terre Haute (IN): University Art Gallery, Indiana State University, 2000, 1-10, 15-22, 23, 25, 28, 33, 37.
Aas, Norbert, "Spinning Ideas, Knotting Threads and Interweaving Art Scenes: art arc and the Promotion of Contemporary African Art," In Chike C. Aniakor and C. Krydz Ikwuemesi (eds.), Crossroads: Africa in the Twilight. Lagos: The National Gallery of Art, 1999, 139-144.
Aas, Norbert, Eine Kunstlerin aus Nigeria: MARCIA KURE 1998. Bayreuth: Iwalewa Haus, 1998.
Eisenhofer, Stephan (ed.), Kulte, Kuunstler, Konige in Africa - Tradition und Moderne in Suudnigeria. Linz: Landesmuseum. 1997, 407, 414, 455-458.
Oguibe, Olu (ed.), Crossing: Time. Space. Movement. Santa Monica: Smart Art Press, 1997, 34-37, 64, 67.
Oguibe, Olu, "Beyond Visual Pleasures: A Brief Reflection on the Work of Contemporary African Women Artists," In Salah Hassan (ed.), Gendered Visions: The Art of Contemporary Africana Women Artists. Trenton, NJ: Africana World Press, Inc. 1997, 63-72.
Aas, Norbert (ed.), Oshogbo-Nsukka: Zwei Richtungen in der zeitgenössischen Kunst Nigerias. Kulturkreis Gersthofen. 1996.
Guez, Nicole (ed.), L’Art Africain Contemporain. Paris: Association Afrique en Créations. 1996.
Studio Residencies
2014 London, England (Victoria and Albert Museum). January – March.
2013 New York, NY (School of Visual Arts) Summer.
2012 Madison, ME, (Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture)
1999 Atlanta, GA (Artists in Residence International Inc.). 15 October – 22 December.
1998 Bayreuth, Germany (Iwalewa Haus/Art Arc/Kaya der Volkshochschule Herzogenaurach). 16 February – 15 May.
1997 Tampa, FL (Contemporary Art Museum/ Art Department, University of South Florida). 27 August – 30 December 1997 Bayreuth, Germany (Kulturkreis Gersthofen/Art Arc). 3 April – 5 May.
2010: Cover Image, "Measuring Time," by Helon Habila, Swedish Edition, Tranan Publishing House, Sweden Art Project, "Dressed Up," ESOPUS 14, Esopus Foundation Limited, NYC
2007: Cover image, "The Horsemen and Other Poems," by Obi Nwakanma, Africa World Press Inc.
2006: Cover Image, Meridians: feminism, race, transnationalism, Vol. 6, Number 2, Smith College, Northhampton, MA
2001: Art work for 2003 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Calendar
1999: Mural commissioned by the City of Langenhagen, Germany. (Jointly executed with Dorothee Aschoff)
Prizes/Awards/Grants
2007- 2008: Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship
2007-2008: Program Puffin Grant for "Burqua as Shelter," Sculpture,Charleston SC
