Biography — read more

Ola-Dele Kuku studied at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC) in Los Angeles, California, USA and in Vico Morcote, Ticino, Switzerland. His roots are in Nigeria. He currently lives and works in Brussels.

His private practice (Ola-Dele Kuku Projects), initiated in Milan, Italy in 1990, and focused primarily on conceptual interventions in architecture with special interest in the philosophy, theory, and composition.

He has since then worked on several award winning projects over the years which include drawings, objects and installations. In 1995, he was awarded the prestigious ‘Grand Prize – Prime Minister’s Prize’ Award – IFI Nagoya International Design Competition, Nagoya, Japan; ‘License of Honour’ Tech-Art Prize Award – Vlaamse Ingenieurs kamer, Antwerp, Belgium, 1995;
‘Henry Van De Velde Prize’ – Prize of the Public Award – VIZO at the Design Museum, Ghent, Belgium 1997; ‘Honourable Mention’ Award – Nagoya Do International Design Competition, Nagoya Japan, 1998; and ‘Mention Special pour la Créativité’ – Biennale pour l’Art Contemporain Africain Dak’ART 2000; SPES Belgian Foundation Scholarship Award (for artistic creation) Lauréat – 2000, Brussels Belgium.

His works have been presented in numerous international exhibitions, at museums, galleries and fairs, (in group and solo exhibitions), such as the Politecnico di Milano, Italy (1990); Nagoya Center, Nagoya, Japan (1995); Lineart, Ghent, Belgium (1996); World Craft Council, Artistry in Wood – Hannover, Germany (1997); Design Museum Gent, Belgium (1997); Centre d’Art Contemporain Brussels, Belgium (1998); Nagoya Centre, Nagoya, Japan (1999); Röhsska Museum, Gothenburg, Sweden (1999); Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France (1999); Biennale pour l’Art Contemporain Africain Dak’ART Dakar, Senegal (2000); International Biennial Design Festival, Sainte-Etienne, France (2000); Narodni Techniké Museum, Czech Republic (2000); Teatro dal Verme Milano, Italy (2001); Middelheim Museum Antwerp, Belgium (2004); Porsche Haus Milan, Italy (2004); Torino Art Fair, Torino, Italy (2004); Musée d’Ixelles Brussels, Belgium (2008); Design Museum Gent, Belgium (2012); 7th Flanders Design Triennial, Genk Belgium (2013).

Various works from his projects have been published extensively, and are in prominent private collections, public institutions and foundations.

Ola-Dele Kuku has lectured and coordinated post-graduate thesis studios in several architecture academies, international conferences and workshops ( since 1990 to the present), at the following institutions:

Politecnico di Milano – Faculty of Architecture (Milan, Italy); Institut Supérieur d’Architecture La Cambre (Brussels, Belgium); Technical University – Dept. of Architecture (Delft, Holland); College of Technology – Faculty of Architecture (Lagos, Nigeria); University of Lagos – Dept. of Architecture (Lagos, Nigeria); Berlage Institute (Amsterdam, Holland); Akademie voor Bouwkunst (Arnhem, Holland); Akademie voor Bouwkunst (Tilburg, Holland); Sint Lucas -Architectuur (Brussels, Belgium); Sint Lucas – Architectuur (Gent, Belgium).

He participates as guest speaker, at various international conferences on architecture, the environment and socio-cultural development. The architect – artist is presently working on the establishment of ‘Post-Conflict Rehabilitation’ Programme as an academic course of study in architecture, design, and art academies.

Selected works

Africa is Not a Country!

Africa is Not a Country!
Néon
2016

Videos

Artist news

Ola Dele Kuku
— Nigerian Pavilion – La Biennale di Venezia 2016

Ola-Dele Kuku (architect – artist)
15th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia 2016

Ola Dele Kuku
— domusweb.it

Diminished Capacity embraces an analytical approach that confronts complex issues such as resource depletion, migration, and micro and macro global changes.
9th June 2016

Ola Dele Kuku
— letemps.ch

A Venise les arts éclairent l’architecture
10th June 2016

Publications

Ola Dele Kuku
— Speaking in Vernacular

1990/20