Meet Nneka Kai

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nneka Kai.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Nneka. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia to a wonderful mother. Unfortunately, a few months prior to my birth my father passed away. I feel that that particular moment unconsciously prepared me for the rest of my life. Through the earlier years, my family moved around a lot. During which I developed the power of adaptability. The ability to navigate many different spaces and people without fear. I attest this to my mother, who throughout every upheaval, showed courage and strength. What we as a family lacked in financial gains, we made up for in a whole lot of love and laughter.

We call ourselves Four The Hard Way. It was me, my mother and two brothers against the world. Growing up, I had an extensive creative imagination. I would look at my room, my clothes, and my life and envision the potentiality of each. School was the seed that spouted this curiosity. Through books, I could come in contact with places around the world and learn of histories beyond my everyday understanding. School gave me the privilege to not only play instruments but use my voice and body as an instrument to express myself. These cultural spaces, such as the public library, the chorus room, and walks around my city exposed me to a world that was bigger than my current situation. I dreamt of seeing and experiencing it all. It was not until undergrad that I knew I wanted to be an artist. I began my studies as a journalism major and on a whim decided to take a textile class. I would say the rest is history, but I have yet to make my mark. The world of fine art was so new to me. I was amazed that I could take a material and create something that has never existed. The fact that material has a history, a context, and the power to start dialogue. My mind exploded with ideas and visions of what these creations could become in a physical manifestation. Currently, I am in graduate student at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I still pinch myself sometimes. Still coming to terms that I am in a big city far away from everything I have ever known. I have watched my growth in this short amount of time and I can only imagine what the future will hold.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No road is ever smooth. No matter the privilege, everyone has a trauma. I choose to accept the experiences that have shaped me whether good or bad and focus that energy towards my goals. I understand that I have no limitations, no matter what society has placed upon me. I’m a survivor. But one struggle that I will share is the doubt of applying for graduate school. When everyone is in your ear about the expenses and timing, the noise can be too much. I went through a phase of self-doubt, believing that I was not good enough. So the decision to apply was a huge step for me. I felt vulnerable. The critic said that by being an artist, you do not have to go to grad school. But I was not done yet, I knew I needed more. I craved to have my mind expanded. And once I got that acceptance call, I knew I had to go. That was the validation I needed. Not only did I already know my ability, it was recognized by a phenomenal institution. I will never regret that decision.

Contact Info:

• Email: nekscruggs@gmail.com
• Instagram: @Nneka_Kai

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