Olu Oguibe
South Africa | Sculpture, Installation
Known for her work using the character "Sophie" to explore themes of identity, labor, and power.
Exhibitions
Documenta 14
2017 - Kassel, Germany
Oguibe’s most prominent work at this exhibition was the "Monument for Strangers and Refugees," a 16-meter tall obelisk inscribed with a biblical quote in four languages, addressing the global refugee crisis and issues of displacement. The piece won the prestigious Arnold Bode Prize.
Olu Oguibe: History Lesson
1993 - Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK
A solo exhibition that explored themes of colonialism, memory, and identity, using a variety of media including installation, text, and photography to critique historical narratives and their impact on contemporary society.
The Short Century: Independence and Liberation Movements in Africa, 1945-1994
2001 - Museum Villa Stuck, Munich, Germany
Group exhibition where Oguibe's work was featured alongside other influential African artists, examining the role of art in the political and cultural liberation movements across Africa during the post-colonial era.
Utopian Imagination
2019 - Ford Foundation Gallery, New York, USA
Group exhibition where Oguibe’s work was included, focusing on the role of art in imagining alternative futures and challenging existing social and political structures, with his contributions addressing themes of migration and identity.
Olu Oguibe: Postcolonial Life and the Afterlife
2005 - The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, USA
A solo exhibition that reflected on Oguibe's ongoing engagement with postcolonial theory, identity, and the legacies of colonialism, using text-based works and installations to provoke critical thought on these issues.
Triennale der Photographie
2018 - Hamburg, Germany
Group exhibition that included Oguibe’s photographic work, focusing on the intersection of history, memory, and identity in the African diaspora, exploring how these themes are represented and reinterpreted in contemporary art.
Documenta 14
2017 - Kassel, Germany
Oguibe's most notable work at this exhibition was the "Monument for Strangers and Refugees," a 16-meter tall obelisk inscribed with a biblical quote in four languages, addressing the global refugee crisis and issues of displacement. The piece won the prestigious Arnold Bode Prize.
Olu Oguibe: History Lesson
1993 - Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK
A solo exhibition exploring themes of colonialism, memory, and identity, using a variety of media including installation, text, and photography to critique historical narratives and their impact on contemporary society.
Olu Oguibe: Postcolonial Life and the Afterlife
2005 - The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, USA
A solo exhibition reflecting on Oguibe's engagement with postcolonial theory, identity, and the legacies of colonialism, using text-based works and installations to provoke critical thought on these issues.