Minne Atairu

Last updated
Minne Atairu
Born
Benin, Nigeria
OccupationArtist
Academic background
Alma mater University of Maiduguri (BA), George Washington University (MA), Columbia University (EdD)
Doctoral advisor Richard Jochum
Website minneatairu.com

Minne Atairu is a Nigerian interdisciplinary artist, a recipient of the 2021 Global South Award Lumen Prize for Art and Technology. [1] She generates synthetic Benin Bronzes through recombination of historical fragments, sculptures, texts, images, and sounds.

Contents

Early life and education

Atairu was born in Benin, Nigeria. [2]

She holds a bachelor's degree in art history from the University of Maiduguri in Maiduguri, Nigeria; a master's degree in museum studies from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.; and a doctorate in art education from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. [3] Her academic research integrates artificial intelligence, art/museum education and hip-hop based education. [4]

Works

AI Restored, Head of an Oba, Benin Bronze by Minne Atairu AI-Restored, Head of an Oba, benin Bronze.png
AI Restored, Head of an Oba, Benin Bronze by Minne Atairu

Atairu's artmaking involves using artificial intelligence (AI) to make artwork. She uses tools such as Midjourney and Blender software to develop her works.

Mami Wata

Her first work is a Yoruba goddess called Mami Wata where she used Midjourney in generating the images. [5]

To the Hand

For her 2023 installation at The Shed arts center, she worked with Blender to convert text into 3D-printed sculptures made of corn starch or sugarcane infused with bronze. The rings of ground terra-cotta that surround the sculpture represent the walls and deep moats of Benin. [6]

Publications

References

  1. ↑ "Minne Atairu – Graduate Research in Art Education". Sites at Penn State. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  2. ↑ Johnson, Shameekia Shantel (29 April 2025). "Minne Atairu Reimagines Looted Artworks Using AI". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "Minne Atairu". metaLAB (at) Harvard, Berlin & Basel. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  4. ↑ Africa, Open Restitution (12 September 2022). "African Voices in Restitution". Open Restitution Africa. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  5. ↑ Johnson, Shameekia Shantel (April 29, 2025). "Minne Atairu Reimagines Looted Artworks Using AI". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  6. ↑ "Minne Atairu". The Shed. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.