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Nasher Nkanga's Night at the F or almost a decade, D a l l a s ' N a s h e r Sculpture Center has recognized brilliant artists who question, explore, expand, and remake the category of sculpture with the Nasher Prize. As the eighth and newest Nasher Prize Laureate, Otobong Nkanga is recognized for her internationally lauded practice as an artist working in sculpture, as well as photography, painting, installations, performance art, poetry, and music. Born in Kano, Nigeria, Nkanga spent her formative years in Lagos and Paris and currently resides in Antwerp. She joins a distinguished company that includes past Nasher Prize Laureates Theaster Gates, Nairy Baghramian, and Senga Nengudi. In celebration, leading artists, philanthropists, and patrons of the arts gathered for the Nasher Prize Gala, one of the most sensational nights for the Dallas arts community, bringing together the city's most vibrant artists and those who champion them. Nkanga held court in front of the museum, stopping for photographs on her big night, while, inside, guests viewed the polymath's recently installed exhibition, "Each Seed a Body." Across the garden, a majestic tent awaited the dignified occasion, decorated by Bows + Arrows. Matrice Ellis- Kirk and Lucilo Peña co-chaired this iteration of the biennial prize, stopping by each table to thank patrons for their support. Onstage, Ellis-Kirk and Peña explained the box of soap at each guest's place: Nkanga produced the soap in Dallas as part of her ongoing project, "Carved to Flow." (The co-chairs cautioned guests not to use the soap until it finishes curing in a month.) The newest Laureate was presented with her Renzo Piano-designed award by Nancy Nasher; clearly relishing her moment in the spotlight, Nkanga struck a triumphant pose with her award held aloft. Nasher patrons: Grace C o o k , N a n c y C a r l s o n , D e e d i e R o s e , K a t h r y n Andrews, Carolyn Christov- B a k a r g i e v , N a t h a n Carter, Ambassador Ron Kirk, Rachel and Adam Green, Yuko Hasegawa, Hugh Hayden, Melissa and Drew Ireland, Pablo León de la Barra, Vicki Meek, Francisco Moreno, Erin Cluley and Tearlach Hutcheson, Nic Nicosia, Christen and Derek Wilson, Joyce Goss, Pete West, Donna Wilhelm, and Sharon and Michael Young. By Melissa Smrekar. Photography Vanessa Chavez, Exploredinary. Miguel of Dallas Tammy Cotton Hartnett Daisha Board Joeonna Bellorado-Samuels Nancy Nasher & David J. Haemisegger Alex Logsdail Honoree Otobong Nkanga Pablo León de la Barra, Ana Sun Tearlach Hutcheson Alexis Poarch Francisco Moreno Lynn McBee Joyce Goss Catalina Gonzalez Jorba Cris Worley Erick Swenson Rachel & Adam Green Co-chair Lucilo Peña Honoree Otobong Nkanga Co-chair Matrice Ellis-Kirk 70