Meet W.

B. 1996

Waku Ken is an emerging self-taught artist of Nigerian-American descent. Although born in the United States, she spent her childhood in Nigeria, surrounded by a family that loved art. Her interior designer mother was a versatile artist who dabbled in various art forms, including sculpting, painting, and sewing. As a result, Waku developed a passion for art from a young age and decided to pursue it as a career.

Waku's art is inspired by her emotions and memories of Nigeria and the world around her, eliciting strong reactions from viewers. Her work includes minimalist sculptures, abstract and visual art paintings, and photographs.

Despite not having formal art training, Waku has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Kelley School of Business, a master's degree in technology management from Columbia University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in architecture-engineering-construction management from Carnegie Mellon University. She believes that her diverse interests and knowledge from different fields give her art a unique perspective.

Waku's art has been well-received, and she has participated in several group shows. In 2022, she was part of a group show titled Arts from the Motherland, curated by Dozie Arts at the Thames Art Center in Brooklyn, NY. In 2023, she participated in a group show for the grand re-opening of The Frame Gallery at Carnegie Mellon University. Her works have also been featured in magazines, and one of her poems was adapted into a short YouTube film.

Waku prefers to use she/her pronouns.

W.