Artist bio
Nzingah Oyo is an American-born, Brooklyn-based visual artist, photographer, and curator. Her work depicts layered narratives that examine and celebrate culture, politics, and global social dynamics. She received an MFA in Photography from Temple University and a BFA from SUNY Purchase. She has taught photography at Temple University and held the role of Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida. She is a Fulbright scholar and a recipient of the Light Work Artist in Residence program. Oyo has received several Brooklyn Arts Council grants, the Lilly Auchincloss Foundation Award of Excellence in Photography, The Urban Arts Initiative grant in Photography, and awarded a New York Foundation of Arts grant in Photography. She was recently selected for the New York Times Photo Review 2023. Her work has been exhibited in both solo and group shows internationally and nationally. Oyo is currently a freelance photographer, adjunct faculty at The School of Visual Arts, and teaching artist for the Brooklyn Arts Council.
"I believe everyone has a vision; some are simple creations of beautiful ideas, while others depict layers and complexities of our shared human experience."
-Nzingah Oyo
nzingahoyo@gmail.com
EDUCATION: 2000, Master of Fine Art (MFA), Temple University, Tyler School of Art
1997, Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA), State University of New York at Purchase College
CURATION:
2022 I Am Muslim Group Exhibition, New Brunswick, NJ
LECTURES/ ARTIST TALKS/ PANELIST:
2023 Panelist, NYSCA 2024 Grant Cycle
2023 Panelist: Making Life As A Practicing Artist, STAMPS, University of Michigan
2022 Panelist, BAC 2023 Grant Cycle
2022 Artist Talk, Black Girl Take Over, Express Newark
2021 Artist Talk, School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
TEACHING APPOINTMENTS:
2023 Adjunct Faculty, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
2023 Photography/ Art Teacher, Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn, NY
2020 Instructor of Photography, Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy, Org., Brooklyn, NY
2003 Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Art & Art History - University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
1999-2000 Teaching Assistant, Tyler School of Art - Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
07/2022 Le Grand Boubou, Billie Holiday Theater Gallery - Brooklyn, NY
02/2005 Objects of Investigation, Stony Brook Art Gallery, Long Island NY
02/2005 Portraits, St. Petersburg Museum, Florida
04/2004 Objects of Investigation, Esso Gallery, NYC
07/2003 Untitled Series, Palazzo Pino Pascali, Comunale d’arte Contemporanea, Bari, Italy
04/2003 Untitled Series, Alberto Peola Arte Contemporanea, Torino, Italy
03/2002 Untitled Series, Studio Ercolani, Bologna, Italy
11/2002 Untitled Series, Esso Gallery, NYC
SELECTED GROUP SHOW:
06/2023 Le Grand Boubou, Photoville, Brooklyn NY
05/2022 Mother, Mason Exhibitions Arlington, Arlington VA
05/2022 I Am Muslim, Above Art Studio, New Brunswick, NJ
02/2022 Picturing Black Girlhood: Moments of Possibility, Paul Robeson Gallery, Newark, NJ
11/2020 MFON Women, SP-Foto Art Fair, SP-Arte 365, Sao Paolo, Brazil (Online)
06/2007 The Color Line, Jack Shainman Gallery, NYC
12/2004 African Queen, Studio Museum of Harlem, NYC
12/2003 Only Skin Deep, International Center of Photography, NYC
07/2003 Facing the World, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Villa Croce, Genova, Italy
06/2003 What Am I Doing Here, Esso Gallery, NYC
04/2003 Abstracting the Domestic Landscape, Beaker Gallery, Tampa, FL
12/2002 Diversity within Unity, Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL
09/2002 Untitled Series, Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, OR
11/2002 Girl, Georgia State University Art Gallery, Atlanta, GA
08/2002 Faculty Show, USF Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa, FL
02/2002 Ophelia Rising, Temple Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
12/2001 Les Jeux Sont Faits, Esso Gallery, NYC
05/2001 Silenzi, Alberto Peola Arte Contemporanea, Torino, Italy
09/2000 Vision of Excellence, Mumm Cuvee Gallery, San Francisco, CA
04/2000 On The Verge, African American Museum, Philadelphia, PA
09/1998 A Woman’s Lens Annual Exhibition, Tarrytown, NY
10/1997 Spectra `97, Silvermine Guild Art Gallery, Connecticut
MERITS/RESIDENCY:
• International Fulbright Scholar, Photography, 2004
• Brooklyn Arts Council ( Brooklyn Arts Fund & Local Arts Support) - Photography, 2022 & 2023
• Saltonstall AIR, Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, Ithica, New York – Photography, 2023
• The Urban Arts Initiative – Photography, 2007
• NYFA (New York Foundation of Arts) - Photography, 2006
• Lilly Auchincloss Foundation Award of Excellence - Photography, 2006
• BAC (Brooklyn Arts Council) Award in Photography, 2004
• Light Work Artist in Residence, Syracuse, New York, 2003
• Temple University Presidential Fellowship, Graduate School, 1999
• Margaret Guest Memorial Award, Silvermine Guild Gallery, 1997
• Selected Artist for New York Photo Review 2023
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
2022 Jenkins, Mark. In the galleries: How DNA provided a platform for intriguing art. The Washington Post, May 20.
2004 Leffingwell, Edward. Objects of Investigation Series. Art in America 139.
Cotter, Holland. Objects of Investigation, Nzingah Muhammad. New York Times, Art in Review, May 28.
2003 Gili, Angiola Maria. Nzingah in cerca d’identita. La Stampa, April.
Diversity within Unity, Orlando Sentinel. February 20.
Fochessati, Matteo, and Sandra Solimano. Facing the World, Contemporary Portrait in the Photographic Medium. Exhibition catalogue.
Di Tursi, Marilena. “Nzingah Muhammad.” Corriere Della Sera: Cultura, July 3.
Nzingah Muhammad. Flash Art 89,July.
Tradizione Islamica e Cultura Occidentale. Bari Cultura, June 24.
Marino, Antonella. Nzingah, travestimenti alla ricerca dell’anima. La Republica, July 3.
Grande, Patricia. Africa e America incontro nell’arte. L’informatore, June #5.
2002 Untitled Series, Studio Ercolani. Exhibition catalogue.
Sozanski, Edward J. Ophelia Rising: Photographers frame female issues. Philadelphia Inquirer Arts Review. February.
Fallon, Roberta. Girls on Film: Ophelia Rising. Philadelphia weekly, February 20.
Number 36, Blue Sky Gallery. Exhibition catalogue.
2000 Sozanski, Edward J. Women on the Verge: 9 women raise issues once off-limits. Philadelphia Inquirer Arts Review, February.
Walls, Wanda. Young African American women “On the Verge”. Art Matters, March.
1997 “Women of Islam” photo wins award at Guild. New Canaan Inquirer, October 30