Dawn Okoro

Dawn Okoro (born 1980, in Houston), is a Nigerian American artist.

Quotes

• I just decided to give up on art. I liked making work, but I think I had a vision of what an artist was. I thought there would be less struggle and anxiety. But it's impossible not to see art in your life. You really can't avoid it, it's everywhere.
  • Earl Hopkins, From small galleries to primetime TV, Dawn Okoro is shining under international spotlight, American-Statesman, 28 May 2022.
• Where I grew up, people heard of (Pablo Picasso) or whatever, but my family was kind of like, 'That's a nice hobby, but you need to go be a doctor or a lawyer or engineer.
  • Earl Hopkins, From small galleries to primetime TV, Dawn Okoro is shining under international spotlight, American-Statesman, 28 May 2022.
• In my heart, I knew I wanted to do art, but there was still that drive to feel like I'm actually doing something with my life in a way that my family would understand.
  • Earl Hopkins, From small galleries to primetime TV, Dawn Okoro is shining under international spotlight, American-Statesman, 28 May 2022.
• It felt like something was missing. After maturing, seeing life and experiencing the death of people close to me, it kind of felt like life really is short and I need to start living and I started small from there.
  • Earl Hopkins, From small galleries to primetime TV, Dawn Okoro is shining under international spotlight, American-Statesman, 28 May 2022.
• When I watched the episode where Jennifer Beals said my name and showed my painting, I squealed a little. I’m happy to see some of my goals begin to come to fruition. There is so much more that I can do with art. I’m just getting started.
  • Earl Hopkins, From small galleries to primetime TV, Dawn Okoro is shining under international spotlight, American-Statesman, 28 May 2022.
• It's taken me years to come to that conclusion, and there are still some times as an adult when those feelings creep in again. But I think just doing my art has helped me a lot, and getting my art out there lets me know it's OK just to be who I am.
  • Earl Hopkins, From small galleries to primetime TV, Dawn Okoro is shining under international spotlight, American-Statesman, 28 May 2022.
• To me, a punk spirit is just living freely, disregarding societal norms and just being free to be themselves.
  • Dawn Okoro: Full-Time Artist, Full-Time Journalist, Spectrum News, 18 July 2019.
• Whatever I make is for myself first. And when I do that, it naturally resonates with whoever else it is also for.
  • Renae Jarrett, Dawn Okoro skewers respectability politics, Sightlines, December 2, 2020.
• I wanted so badly just to fit in and assimilate with what was acceptable. Which is hard because I felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb. I wanted to be invisible.
  • Renae Jarrett, Dawn Okoro skewers respectability politics, Sightlines, December 2, 2020.
• I want my work to be accessible in different ways, more ingrained into other pieces of culture, other than just being on white walls. I want to expand my reach, because when people find my work and they feel a connection and they get it, then I feel like it was for them as well.
  • Renae Jarrett, Dawn Okoro skewers respectability politics, Sightlines, December 2, 2020.
• I want people to walk into the exhibition and feel like they belong. I hope they can feel the sense of movement and see themselves reflected in the pieces.
  • Aria Bell, Punk Noir Is an Art Exhibition for the Rule-Breakers, Dallas Observer, January 21, 2020.

Quotes about Okoro

• I like her (Okoro) confidence and her ability to engage with people, take chances and trust in the process of things. Her future is really bright and her work is uplifting.
  • Mauve Doyle as quoted in From small galleries to primetime TV, Dawn Okoro is shining under international spotlight, American-Statesman, 28 May 2022.
• When I first saw Okoro, I thought she was amazing from the get-go, and everything she's doing now is just reinforcing that. I love the way she's constantly exploring her work. She doesn't stay in one place.
  • Phillip Niemeyer as quoted in From small galleries to primetime TV, Dawn Okoro is shining under international spotlight, American-Statesman, 28 May 2022.