ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ekow Nimako was born in Montreal and studied Fine Arts at York University. He began using Lego in his professional practice in 2014 and has since cultivated a unique approach to sculpting the iconic material. In 2015 he explored the theme of animal extinction with his monumental sculpture, Silent Knight, commissioned by the City of Toronto for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche. The seven-and-a-half foot sculpture paid homage to one of Ontario’s most extirpated bird species, the barn owl, and further elevated Ekow’s ability to animate the inanimate. 2016’s Grey Matters, commissioned by the Baycrest Foundation for the citywide fundraising campaign The Brain Project, featured a monochromatic, larger-than-life human brain as a public statement on the importance of brain health. During 2017 Ekow delved deeper into his studio practice, drawing on his fascination with mythology and the austerity and metaphorical imagery of West African proverbs to create his latest body of work Building Black: Mythos. Ekow lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

PUBLIC ARTWORKS

2018 - Cavalier Noir, Nuit Blanche, Scarborough Civic Centre/Toronto City Hall

2016 – Grey Matters, The Brain Project/Baycrest Foundation, Union Station |

Yorkdale Shopping Centre

2015 – Silent Knight, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art

EXHIBITIONS

2017 - (Group Exhibition) CreativeTO, Artscape Young Place

2016 - (Group Exhibition) Intergalactic Noise, Art Gallery of Mississauga

2015 - (Solo Exhibition) Building Black, Capacity 3 Gallery

2015 - (Group Exhibition) Black Future Month, Ontario College of Art and Design

2014 - (Solo Exhibition) Building Black, B.A.N.D Gallery and Cultural Centre

2014 - (Solo Exhibition) Building Black, Impresario Gallery

2014 - (Solo Exhibition) Building Black, Daniels Spectrum

EDUCATION

2007 - 2010 - BFA: Studio, York University

RESIDENCIES/WORKSHOPS

2016 – The Art Gallery of Mississauga - Roots and Branches

2015 - The Power Plant Gallery - Power Youth Residency/Winter

2015 - The Power Plant Gallery - Power Youth Residency/Fall

COMMISSIONS

2018 - Cavalier Noir, City of Toronto, Nuit Blanche 

2018 - Copa, Nemeziz, X, Predator, Tango League, adidas Canada

2016 – Grey Matters, The Brain Project - Baycrest Foundation

2016 – the Bergeron Centre of Engineering Excellence, Lassonde School of

Engineering

2015 - Silent Knight, City of Toronto, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
2014 - Lady Nzinga, Canadian Film Centre, Bold, Black Risk-taker 2014