Harsh Collective is pleased to announce the solo exhibition Apartment 26 with Uzo Njoku. The exhibition will be on view from June 9th through July 30th, 2023, with an opening reception on Friday, June 9th from 6-9 pm. Uzo Njoku is a versatile visual artist well known for her mesmerizing motifs used in her pattern making. The artist utilizes her hypnotizing pattern making in her apparel production and a vast array of products which she daringly creates. Njoku successfully does what many artists struggle to accomplish; she bridges the gap between high art and design by incorporating her pattern making, clothing and home goods, within her paintings. Her vibrant paintings, majorly, depict melanin figures in contemporary clothing whilst incorporating her intricate patterns to create contrast and depth. The artist explains that often Black artists feel the responsibility to depict black suffering, but Njoku finds that her purpose is to showcase the joy, beauty, and energy of Black communities.

 

    Apartment 26 will bring to life one home from Njoku’s acclaimed series The Neighborhood by building an apartment within the gallery space. The layout includes a front door behind the gallery storefront, a half-bath, living room, mudroom, and foyer that viewers can explore. The mock apartment features twelve paintings by the artist, as well as furniture and clothing designed by the artist which are featured in the twelve artworks. Through the exhibition, Njoku’s multiple practices are beautifully entwined, inviting the viewer to step into the visual world the artist creates.

 

    Uzo Njoku (b. 1996) was born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to the United States at the age of 7. She received a B.A. in Studio Art from the University of Virginia. Njoku has exhibited in New York City, Dubai, and Los Angeles, her work is featured in private collections globally.