"Joy" by Nnamdi Okonkwo

11 x 15 x 7 inches, bronze sculpture, limited edition

Nnamdi Okonkwo was born in Nigeria in 1965, and was always drawn to art. He was recruited by BYU-Hawaii to play basketball, and there he found his opportunity to nourish all his talents. He played basketball and graduated with a BFA in sculpture, then went on to receive his MFA in sculpture from BYU-Provo in 1997. Okonkwo’s sculptures of women are rotund forms that symbolize the abundance of life, “an outward manifestation of a largeness of soul." The souls are full of gesture, even in their seeming stillness. Whether enclosed within themselves, or interacting with another form, their subtle “actions” evoke a depth of empathy. His art speaks so clearly of his motivation. “My inspiration comes from the aspect of the human soul that I find sublimely beautiful and noble.” His art is a personal statement, a unique viewpoint formed by his life experiences.