born in 1990, Abia state, Nigeria ; lives and works in Jos-north, Nigeria
Samuel Nnorom is a multi-award-winning artist whose work poetically crosses tapestry-like sculpture and pre-loved fabric. Since early childhood, elements that now shape his contemporary practice have surrounded him: colourful scraps from his mother’s tailoring workshop crystallised his artistic vocation. Self-proclaimed “custodian of material culture”, Nnorom uniquely draws upon materiality, dedicating his art to textile recycling and a sociological reflection on the human condition. Currently living and working in Nsukka, Samuel Nnorom holds an MFA in sculpture from the University of Nigeria. He cumulates numerous solo shows, group exhibitions and residencies in the United Kingdom, Africa, Mexico, Portugal, Italy, Canada, and the United States. He was named the overall winner of the annual international art initiative Art for Change Global Prize 2022. Samuel is interested in the politics that used clothes/second-hand/cast-off fabrics play on human conditions. Through stitching of overlaid clothes and tying of criss-cross fabric straps across the surface like a bale of imported used clothes suggest limitations caused by neo-colonialism, fast fashion, consumerism, poor political decision, environmental waste and the negative economic impact on the development of our local textile industry.
