Nina Chanel Abney

Working primarily on large-scale canvases, Nina Chanel Abney’s striking and powerful works tackle contemporary social issues with a blend of humour, satire and a bold, graphic aesthetic. Born in 1982 in Chicago, Illinois, Abney’s vibrant palette and pop-surrealist style draw from a diverse range of influences, including cartoons, street art and historical painting, making her one of the most dynamic voices in contemporary art today.

After earning her BFA from Augustana College in 2004, Abney went on to receive her MFA from the Parsons School of Design in 2007. Her thesis project, entitled Class of 2007, gained immediate attention for its portrayal of her graduating class as African American inmates donning orange jumpsuits. This work explores racial and cultural identity issues, setting the stage for her burgeoning career.

Abney’s colourful overlapping forms, now representative of her practice, recall the work of the early American Modernist painter Stuart Davis, plus Henri Matisse’s playful cut-outs composed of paper and gouache. By experimenting with these two materials, Matisse was able to formally unite line with colour, an act that has resonated in Abney’s paintings in which stories are presented as superimposed forms. ‘Collage,’ Abney has said, ‘really piqued my interest in how to layer flat shapes or flat elements in a way that could give the illusion of perspective.’

Abney’s unique style and critical eye have earned her a prominent place in the contemporary art scene. Christie’s sold her Untitled (XXXXXX) (2015), a two-part large-scale painting depicting two policemen detaining a kneeling man, for US$990,000 in 2021 — a world auction record for the artist. Abney has also worked on several commercial collaborations with brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Nike. Her works can also be seen in public spaces across the United States in New York, California, Chicago, Miami and more.

Nina Chanel Abney’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions worldwide. Her pieces have been displayed in prestigious institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum in New York, the Rubell Museum in Miami and the Burger Collection in Hong Kong.