Discipline to be confirmed

Iyaba Mandingo

Artist Statement

Iyaba brings a multidisciplinary practice grounded in spoken word, performance, storytelling, and visual expression, using language, rhythm, and lived experience to explore identity, history, memory, and the Caribbean experience.

Biography

IYABA IBO MANDINGO – Is a Djeli/Griot, a storyteller, who employs several mediums to bring these tales to life. Iyaba studied fine arts at Southern Connecticut State University and today teaches in and around the tri-state area as a Master Teaching Artist.

He has published a novel “Sins of My Fathers” and three collections of poetry “Fu You Tongue Heavy Lakka56” and “41 Times”, and “Season Rice” released in the fall of 2024. His one-man play “Self Portrait unFRAMED” had a sold-out six week run off Broadway after returning from a tour of South Africa and Nigeria. His paintings and sculptures have been exhibited in Japan, Europe, Africa, North and South America and the Caribbean.

Most recently, a 2024 invitation to the Venice Biennale as a visual and performance Artist and the first major solo museum exhibition with his series “Arwe Journey” at the Housatonic Museum. Further establishing his presence on the national and international arts stage.

Iyaba Ibo Mandingo will present a new series of paintings entitled The Coronation and Death of Kwaku Tayki. This collection of six paintings chronicles the story of Kwaku Tayki from the night of his coronation to the day of his martyrdom.

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Selected Works