Chidinma Nnoli INTERVIEW
What is your dearest memory?
That would be hanging around after school with my high school art teacher, we would just sit in the
art studio, printing on Ase oke (a Nigerian woven cloth) or designing motifs. He was a great teacher
and really made us feel very valid about our choices.
Do you ever imagine that your paintings have background music?
Of course! I want to push how ethereal my works are so I imagine my work exists in a world where
only Lana del Rey and Lorde songs are being played 24/7.
Are the people in your paintings based on people in real life, or are they products of your
imagination?
Most are paintings are of me, my sisters and friends. Mostly me. Sometimes, they’re imagined
when the story requires that. My lived experiences influence the work.
How do you know when a painting is done?
you just know, you look at the work and you know it’s done. Anything more or anything less would
be dishonest and I always push for honesty in my work.
What is one thing you’re currently learning how to do?
I’m learning to take pictures because I just got a camera. That may be a media I will explore
eventually. I don’t know yet.
What is one thing you wish you could do?
I wish I could play the piano, it looks really difficult and I haven’t tried to learn.
Do you think there is anything holding you back?
I hate not being instantly good at something. That’s the only thing holding me back.
How important is family to you?
Family is very important and to me, family isn’t only biological relations, family are people who
make you feel safe and feel good about yourself.
What is something you make sure to do every day, why do you do it?
I listen to music every single day. Music is warm and it makes me feel good.
What’s your favorite color? Why?
Green, it feels so alive and pure. I hate using it to paint though.
If you could hang out in the studio of anyone for a day who would it be?
Off the top of my head, I want to mention like 20 artists but I would really love to hang out in Toyin
Ojih Odutola’s studio, her storytelling is something I admire so much, it would be nice to have a
conversation. Also, Cecily Brown and Flora Yukhnovich it would be interesting to see what their
process is like.
If you could travel to anywhere in the world right now where you go?
I would definitely go to France, I want to see the Louvre so badly. I’ve only seen it in pictures and
movies and the magnificence of it, I just want to experience that.
More Chidinma Nnoli to check out.
https://www.instagram.com/chidinma.nnoli/?hl=en
