TRANSCULTURAL CONVERSATIONS American and Nigerian Art in Dialogue.

The vibrancy of contemporary art in Nigeria is determined by the great output from both indigenous Nigerian-based artists and others, from the diaspora. However, scholarly emphasis has been paid to the artistic trajectory of home-based artists. An increasing influx of artists in the diaspora have returned to Nigeria to engage in art projects that bring new dimensions to the arts. In addition to this category of artists is a growing crop of United States-based artists who receive funding from US institutions and the US government. This article focuses on the works of two artists-an American-bred Nigerian artist, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, and an African American, California-based artist, Brett Cook-with emphasis on the various dimensions of their art in engaging with people within a mostly unfamiliar environment and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]