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.
From January 2014 through March 2014, Kure was artist-in-residence at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Solo Exhibitions

• 2015: "Grey," Susan Inglett Gallery, NYC
• 2014: "Conformity", Purdy Hicks Gallery, London, UK
• 2011: "Dressed Up", Susan Inglett Gallery, New York City
• 2011: "Fashionable Hybrids", Bravin Lee Programs, New York City
• 2007: "Vogue Series", Bravin Lee Programs, New York City.
• 2006: "Wonderland Series II", Lisa Dent Gallery, San Francisco, USA.
• 2004: "WONDERLAND", Lisa Dent Gallery, San Francisco, USA.
• 2003: Gallery Art Korner, The Hague, The Netherlands.
• 2000: "Cloth as Identity", Goethe-Institut, Lagos, Nigeria.
• 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

• 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
• 2014 "Sargent’s Daughters," Sargent’s Daughters, NYC
• 2014 Dakar Biennale, Dakar, Senegal
• 2013 "Dressed Up: Hope Gangloff, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Marcia Kure and Neeta Madahar," Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MI
• 2013 "Chick Lit: Revised Summer Reading," curated by Molly Rand and Pilar Vahey, Tracy Williams Gallery, NYC
• 2013 "The Art of Translation: The Simon Ottenberg Gift of Modern and Contemporary Nigerian Art," Newark Museum, Newark, NJ
• 2013 "Expanding Africa," Newark Museum, Newark, NJ
• 2013 "Multiple Choice: Perspectives on the Spelman College Collection Exhibit," Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
• 2012: "Fliegen/Flying", Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin.
• 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: "Five Artists Exhibit Contemporary Nigerian Art", Abraka Turf Club, Abraka, Nigeria
• 1997: "Kulte, Künstler, Könige in Afrika", Schlossmuseum, Linz, Austria
• 1997: "New Currents: Avante garde Nigerian Art", Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria
• 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: "Contemporary Nigerian Art", WIPO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland
• 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

• 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.

• 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.
• Ottenberg, Simon, New Traditions from Nigeria: Seven Artists of the Nsukka Group. Washington/ London: The Smithsonian Institution Press/The National Museum of African Art. 1997, 153, 219, 262.
• 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.

• 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.

• 2015 "Build Africa: Columbia University’s African Economic Forum," New York. (April 2015)
• 2014 "1:54 Art Fair Forum 2014: Christine Eyene in Conversation with Billie Zangewa and Marcia Kure," London. (17 October)
• 2013 Juror,The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards-Northern NJ Region, Montclair Art Museum. (7 January)
• 2012 Artist Lecture, "Body, Clothing and Hybrid Forms," The Handwerker Gallery, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY. (4 April)
• 2012 "Next Wave Nigeria: Artists in Dialogue with curator Christa Clarke: Marcia Kure, Osi Audu, Nnenna Okore," Newark Museum, Newark, NJ. (10 May)
• 2010 Ballarmine Forum, Imagining Equality, Women’s Art and Activism, Lifting Oppression as We Climb: Black Women Artists and Activism, Loyola Marymount University (24–30 October)
• 2009 Lecture and Panel Discussion, Smithsonian Institution Forum on Material Culture, 84th Quarterly Meeting, "Intersections:Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship Program," Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (17 March)
• 2008 Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship Lecture, National Museum of African Art
• Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. (12June)
• 2006 Vail Visiting Artist Lecture, Denison University, Granville, OH (20–21 April)
• 2005 Artist Lecture, Griffiths 123, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY (October 6)
• 2004 Panelist, "My Journey Yours: Community based Art and the Culture of a Global World?," Facilitated by Tumelo Mosaka (Curator, Brooklyn Museum, NY) Atlanta, GA
• 2004 Fiber Studio Workshop (with Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada), Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME (22 August – 3 September)
• 2004 The Head’s Seminar, St. Mark’s School, Southborough, MA (20 February)
• 2003 Vail Visiting Artist Lecture, Denison University, Granville, OH (6–7 February)
• 2002 Employment Panel, Art-at-Work Summer Program. Fulton County Arts Council, Atlanta, GA (13 and 20 April)
• 2002 Field Trip Panel, School Arts Program (SAP), Fulton County Arts Council, Atlanta, GA (19 May)
• 2002 Participating Artist, Family History Artbook Project (fall), Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta, GA (12 October – 16 November).
• 2002 Participating Artist, Family History Artbook Project (fall) organized by The Contemporary Art Center, C. W. Hill Elementary School, Atlanta, GA (6 October – 19 November)
• 2002 Artist Lecture, Art and Art History Department, University of Iowa, Iowa City (22 October)
• 2002 Lecture and Presentation, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, (26 February)
• 2000 Drawing Workshop, Spellman College, Artists in Residence International and Raid Road Earth, Atlanta, GA (21 November)
• 2000 Lecture on Drawing, Atlanta International School, Atlanta, GA (17 November)
• 2000 Presented at conference: Living Tradition in Africa and the Americas: The Legacy of Melville J. and Frances S. Herskovits. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, (4 April).
• 1992 Printmaking Workshop directed by Willibrord Haas. University of Nigeria, Nsukka

• The British Museum, London, England
• Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
• Grinnell College Faulconer Gallery, Grinnell, OH
• The Newark Museum, Newark, NJ
• National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
• North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
• Sindika Dokolo Foundation, Luanda, Angola
• United States Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria
• Wedge Curatorial Projects, Toronto, Canada

• 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)

• 2007- 2008: Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship
• 2007-2008: Program Puffin Grant for "Burqua as Shelter," Sculpture,Charleston SC
• 2004:Elena Prentice Rulon-Miller Scholarship Fund/Minority Work Study Grant, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts
• 1999: UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists
• 1994: Uche Okeke Prize for Drawing

• 2004: Teaching Internship, St. Mark’s School, Southborough, MA (6 February – 6 March)
• 2002-2004: Art Teacher, Friends School of Atlanta, GA
• 2002: Art Instructor, Art for Women’s Economic
• 2002: Empowerment, A Program of the Fulton County Arts Council, Atlanta, GA
• 2002: Art Instructor, Greater Vine City Opportunities Program, After School/Summer Program for Children Aged 6–14, Vine City, Atlanta, GA

• CNN International, "Inside Africa," (Sally Graham), 17 February 2001
• CNN International, "Inside Africa," (Kari Manns-Leewood), 24 December 2000
• Nigerian Television Authority, (Nnena Kalu Ukoha), Lagos, Nigeria
• Channels Television, (Joe Musa), Lagos, Nigeria.
• Minaj Broadcast International, African Region, (Amaka Ugwu), Lagos, Nigeria