Eto Otitigbe

Member Highlight for September

Tell us about yourself

I am a polymedia artist whose interdisciplinary practice uses sculpture, performance, installation, and public art to intersect history, community engagement, and biophilic design. My public art commissions include Peaceful Journey, a permanent sculpture that pays tribute to the rapper Heavy D in Mt. Vernon, NY; Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at UVA, Charlottesville, VA where he contributed to the creative expression on the memorial’s exterior surface; and Invasive Species: Eco/Systems Land Based Initiatives, a mixed reality installation

and performance that crosspollinates urban plant life with narratives of cultural and physical migration. My upcoming public projects include Emanativ, in Harlem, NY, a permanent sound sculpture that centers Harlem’s rich music history and changing water levels in the Harlem River and Cascode, a permanent installation that translates organic forms, natural materials and data-informed design to represent the intersection of environment, health, community and data, and its collective impact on West Philadelphia residents. I am an Assistant Professor of Sculpture in the Art Department at Brooklyn College. I am the founder of Eto Otitigbe Studio LLC (eo Studio), which received the Creative Capital Grant in 2023 for Tankugbe Incubation Lab.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

I created art all my life and I loved math and science. I chose to go to engineering school and work as a medical device engineer for some time. All the while I did freelance work for art installations and scenic design. After a while I got frustrated by the corporate engineering and I wanted to explore new ideas that were inspired by some of my personal travels and freelance projects. So I made a transition to becoming a fulltime artist. It took a long time and I'm still learning how to sustain my practice better. A lot of the local programs like AIM at the Bronx Museum, the Wave Hill Artist residency, and the Emerging Artist Fellowship at Socrates Sculpture Park gave me the opportunity and recourses to scale up my practice and experiment with public art which in turn lead to other larger opportunities.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Nature, Science, Afrofuturism

Do you have any upcoming projects you can tell us about?

I am installing Cascode, a permanent public artwork at the University of Pennsylvania. The work used material and geometry as metaphors for issues that intersect data science and the community of West Philadelphia. Closer to home I will be installing a temporary sculpture this fall at Weeksville Heritage Center in Crowne Heights.

  HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT MAKERSPACE?

I learned about the makerspace about a year ago during Chashsama Open studios.

What is your favorite tool at Makerspace?

The automated ring rolling machine! Its so powerful and easy to use so you can get really great results. I used it to roll 14 inch diameter rings out of 1/8 inch stainless steel.

WHERE TO FIND eto:

www.etootitigbe.com

https://www.instagram.com/e_o__studio/