Khadija Cecile Niang
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about
cv
Bio
Khadija Cecile Niang is a Norwegian-born Senegalese artist based in London.
She is currently completing her MFA in Fine Art (Painting) at the Slade School of Fine Art. She graduated from the University of Reading with a BA in Art and English Literature where she was nominated for the Platform Graduate Award in 2020 following her solo exhibition at Modern Art Oxford.
Her work has been exhibited and screened at galleries and venues including the Barbican, V&A, Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, The River and Rowing Museum, Wells Malting, London Lighthouse Gallery, HOME by Ronan McKenzie and Lewisham Homes Film Festival.
Artist Statement
My practice explores the interconnection between nature, my body and heritage. My maternal ancestors were fishers, and through oral tradition this lineage has been passed down as a strong part of my identity. Growing up with this coastal connection, I have always found myself drawn to the rhythms of natural bodies of water. Surfing and swimming are central in my personal life and my artistic practice, teaching me to be present and fully in tune with my surroundings. These activities embody a collaboration with nature—one where I learn to listen to the waves and currents, rather than attempting to control them.
In my creative process, I aim to extend this collaboration to the materials I work with. I let intuition guide me, while allowing the materials their own agency—finding that delicate balance between intention and surrender. As with surfing, this practice is about learning, adapting, and being open to the unexpected. Each new project is an exploration of this evolving relationship—between my body, the environment, and the materials I engage with.
My practice is about building connections—not just with nature, but with the wider world, fostering a sense of empathy and shared experience. In paying close attention to the world around me, I hope to inspire others to do the same and to reflect on our role within the natural world and how we relate to it and each other.