Nigerian-born, U.S.-based artist Njideka Akunyili explores the dynamics of her culture and community through mixed-media art, melding limitless combinations of acrylic, charcoal, pastel, marble dust, colored pencils, oil, fabric or Xerox transfers into figurative collages with distinct narratives. Both critics and collectors have responded positively to her work. At Art Basel in 2012, five of her large collage paintings sold in just 30 minutes.

Akunyili received her master’s in fine arts degree from Yale University School of Art and attended the Studio Museum in Harlem residency program in 2011-2012. The artist has exhibited her works throughout the U.S., England and Luxembourg, and her work remains on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Yale University Art Gallery.

See more of Akunyili’s work in ABN’s Fall 2013 “30 under 30″ feature.