In a world increasingly divided, Nigerian-born artist Otobong Nkanga presents an inspiring message of connection through her work. Celebrated for her diverse use of media and profound engagement with both social and natural themes, Nkanga won the 2025 Nasher Prize for her significant contributions to sculpture. Her latest creations are showcased at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, emphasizing the intricate ties between humanity, culture, and the Earth. One standout piece, "Each Seed a Body," incorporates organic materials from various regions, symbolizing global interdependence. Another series, "Carved to Flow," features soap bars crafted with ingredients from multiple continents, reflecting shared histories and resources.

A Gallery of Interconnections

At the Nasher Sculpture Center, visitors encounter a remarkable exhibition by Otobong Nkanga, unveiled on April 5th. In one gallery, "Each Seed a Body" sprawls across the space, combining hand-blown glass globules with ropes wrapped in shredded leaves, grains, flowers, berries, fruit peels, and bark. The artwork includes Guatemalan and Nicaraguan coffees, Jamaican and Mexican sarsaparilla, sassafras bark, and yucca root. This olfactory masterpiece invites viewers to explore its subtle fragrances. Meanwhile, "Carved to Flow" showcases soap bars tinted with red clay or whitened by sea salt and coconut oil, alongside poetic inscriptions evoking geological layers. Also featured is "Deep Surge," six multicolored sandstone chunks carved with designs resembling topographical maps, filled with sodium silicate and red clay mixtures.

Nkanga, born in Nigeria in 1974 and raised between Lagos and Paris, studied in Amsterdam and now resides in Antwerp, Belgium. Her international background naturally influences her exploration of interconnected social, political, and ecological issues. Her works have been displayed in prestigious museums like New York’s Modern and London’s Tate Modern, with pieces acquired by many important institutions. Previously connected to Texas as a 2002 resident artist in Houston’s Project Row Houses, Nkanga emphasizes that humans are but a small part of the ecosystem, urging us to connect through shared histories, emotions, and encounters.

The exhibition runs until August 17th at the Nasher Sculpture Center, located at 2001 Flora St., open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $10, with discounts available for specific groups, and free entry on certain days.

Through her art, Nkanga invites us to rethink our relationship with the Earth and each other. Her work challenges viewers to consider how we fit into the broader ecosystem and encourages a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things. As we stand before her creations, we are reminded that our shared history transcends borders and boundaries, offering hope for a more unified future.