Nina Chanel Abney
Art for the very-online generation
“I’m not going to give you one story, because I’m more than one thing.”
Nina Chanel Abney embraces information overload as a fact of modern life. Playful compositions feature solid blocks of colour, numbers, and mismatched figures that reference ideas outside of the canvas, but still exist within Abney’s vast universe. Hidden amongst the visual barrage are nuanced narratives on race, gender, sexuality, class and history. Abney has created a rich language of symbols and meaning, inspired by memes and emojis. In the digital world, these symbols become the building blocks of community. And for Abney that’s what her practice is all about – “I’m good at finding communi...
Nina Chanel Abney embraces information overload as a fact of modern life. Playful compositions feature solid blocks of colour, numbers, and mismatched figures that reference ideas outside of the canvas, but still exist within Abney’s vast universe. Hidden amongst the visual barrage are nuanced narratives on race, gender, sexuality, class and history. Abney has created a rich language of symbols and meaning, inspired by memes and emojis. In the digital world, these symbols become the building blocks of community. And for Abney that’s what her practice is all about – “I’m good at finding communities that want their stories told.”
Abney also uses her art to create new communities in the digital sphere. During the pandemic, she created the augmented reality piece, Imaginary Friend (2020) to address the loneliness many people were experiencing. In 2022, she started a series of NFTs with GODA called Super Cool World. The goal of the ongoing project is to build a community of people who love her art by giving NFT holders exclusive access to merch and events. Abney allows her practice to evolve with the times, relishing the challenge of keeping up with a rapidly changing world.
Nina Chanel Abney (she/her) was born in Illinois in 1989. She lives and works in New York City.
Abney’s first degree was in studio art and computer science, so it’s no surprise that she’s embraced digital media in her art.
Abney’s mother is also a painter, Abney fell in love with painting through experimenting with her mother’s art supplies at home. Her first commissions were portraits of celebrities for her classmates.
