United States former First-Lady Michelle Obama paid a special visit to Njideka Akunyili- Crosby in her California studio on Saturday.
Njideka‘s sister, Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr couldn’t hold back her joy and took to her Instagram page to share the news with a picture. She wrote;
“So this just happened! Casual Saturday in the Akunyili Crosby family. When Michelle Obama pays a visit to your studio!
“Me to my sister, ‘If it could come up, make sure to tell her abut the book.”
Njideka is a Nigerian- born visual artist. She is also one of the daughters of late Dora Akunyili who was the Director-General of NAFDAC; and also a former Minister of information and Communications from 2008 to 2010.
The acclaimed global artist, Njideka was recently profiled in the 2019 TIME Magazine ‘100 Next’ list. The TIME’s ‘100 Next‘ is an annual list of 100 influential people in the world who are actively contributing to changing the world through their craft.
In a blurb describing the artist, journalist Madeleine Carlisle wrote, “Njideka Akunyili-Crosby’s works have sold for millions at auctions.
“But in 2018, it was possible to see one at Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art free of charge-you didn’t even have to go inside.
“The visual artist was only the second person to be chosen to create a mural on the walls of the museum itself, which was visible from the Grand Avenue’s sidewalk.
“It featured brightly coloured scenes of domestic life: in one section, a woman rests her elbow on a table, seemingly deep in thought.
“Akunyili-Crosby-who moved to the U.S. from Nigeria in her teens-is known for such scenes, some of which autobiographical and incorporate refrences to both countries,” Carlisle wrote.
In an interview with TIME, Akinyuli- Crosby said, “I’m really looking at how (Nigeria and the U.S.) are complex hybrid spaces.”
In 2018, Akunyili-Crosby made history after selling a painting of hers for the sum of #1.2 bn. She recently won a $625,000 MmacArthur Genius Grant which made her #225m richer.
Her iconic Bush Babies painting was sold by Sotheby’s for #1.2b. The artwork was sold during an auction at the Christie’s in London, United Kingdom.