Critiques ~ Comments ~ Reviews

An aura permeates the room where Augie N'Kele's art stands.  Life seems to emanate from the artist’s wire sculptures that depict an impassioned story

...Norma Wade, Dallas Morning News  

There's a whole spirit in...the Africa-born artist's compelling message...he's telling an incredible story from a different perspective...

Mitti Jordan, Dallas Morning News 

The Following Comments Are From Carol Shane's 3-D Design and Modern Art History Class, Morningside College, Sioux City Iowa  Re: Forgotten Heritage Traveling Exhibit at Sioux City Art Center  

 I like the artwork in general because of its uniqueness...Each item is specifically placed and strategically designed, with all the detail, color, shapes, and extra items!  Scary how you can feel something from what in reality is "wires, chains, cork, etc." what would be classified as junk(separately.)  But placed together it reminds us of a very horrid part of our history, slavery.

...very powerful...the figure has his head bowed, as if he is frightened or ashamed...also his hands are connected, indicationg that he is either upset or thinking deeply...this work, along with other sculptures is amazing...the different types of wire and metal provide a powerful message to be relayed by us (the viewers.)

...the work is really very stunning, well orchestrated and very thought provoking. A+ for the effort and the representation...

...really enjoyed this exhibition as the subjects seemed so real and lifelike.  You can feel the emotion and expression put into the work...

...this work is well defined...Even though there is no facial expression the movement and position explains the sorrow and feeling of the character.

I like this work because it seems very simple in comparison to some of the others which seem more decorative, but I think it has a lot of meaning--the way the people are trying to escape.  I also thought it was very true about the double struggle of trying to escape both the ownership and prejudice that people faced. 

I like the artwork in general because of its uniqueness...Each item is specifically placed and strategically designed, with all the detail, color, shapes, and extra items!  Scary how you can feel something from what in reality is "wires, chains, cork, etc." what would be classified as junk(separately.)  But placed together it reminds us of a very horrid part of our history, slavery.

...this is bold art but sometimes the truth is bold and if the truth hurts then you just have to say "ouch" but you will respect it because it is the truth...the parents reaction to a child being taken away is so strong to me.  By being from LA I have seen that scene a lot--rather it is through jail or death, so this art really struck home with me.  I loved it, it was great. 

I was really moved...the figures have no concrete facaial expressions yet you see the pain and anguish in their linear constructions.  The mother figure has wire hands covering her face...she cannot bear to see her child taken away by an indifferent slave owner who has no regards and doesn't look back as he leads the child away.  I think situations such as this are swept under the rug by historians to hide the psychological torture that so many slaves endured.

...it conveyed so much emotion...very creative and well depicted.  The little bit of color used added a lot to it!  I can't imagine how sore the sculptor's hands must be...

Selected Exhibitions

PBS special Art Journeys Gallery, Out of Africa into America.....Satellite in the Classroom.....Art Museum of South Texas at Corpus Christi.....Stiftlesen 3,14/Hordaland International Gallery, Bergen Norway .... Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN .... Winston Salem State University's Diggs Gallery, Winston Salem NC.....Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, Iowa.....Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC.....Irving Arts Center, Irving TX.....Beni Cassell Gallery, Las Vagas, NV.....Mosaics: Dallas Visual Art Center, Dallas, TX...Ellen Noel Art Museum of the Permian Basin, Odessa, TX