Nicolas Africano

(American, born 1948)

Nicolas Africano is a contemporary American artist whose eclectic body of work melds personal experience with historical references. Showcasing the human condition, he uses text to set narratives for his depictions of theatrically posed figures. Africano is often associated as a New Image artist, a loose historical category which also includes Susan Rothenberg, Neil Jenney, and Robert Longo. Born in 1948 in Kankakee, Illinois, he wrote poetry from a young age, creating the nontraditional narratives that would later fuel his visual art. After studying at Illinois State University, he began making primitive, large-scale paintings that showcased central figures. More recently, the artist’s work has consisted of making intimate casts and sculptures of his partner Rebecca in various stages of undress. Africano currently lives and works in Normal, Illinois. His works are included in the collections of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, the Milwaukee Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.