Program Details
Making Master Moves in Art & in the Game of Life
In Conversation: Modupeola Fadugba, Maurice Ashley, Tunde Onakoya, and Lanisa Kitchiner
Saturday, February 1 | 2:00–3:15p.m. | Great Gallery
What does an Emmy-award winning artist, an international chess grandmaster, and an innovative social activist/educator have in common?
They each plan and execute ways to succeed despite challenges and setbacks.
This thought-provoking conversation will explore how artists, activists, and grandmasters use creative thinking, technical skill, and strategic action to overcome obstacles in their professions and in the game of life. Discover how an artist transitions from a blank canvas to a masterpiece, how a grandmaster pivots from a losing position to a powerful win, and how an innovative educator fosters winning mindsets among the most underserved communities. These themes are reflected in our current exhibition, Strategic Interplay: African Art and Imagery in Black and White.
You can register to attend either in person or online. All registered attendees will receive a link to the event recording, available for viewing two weeks following the event.
Maurice Ashley stands as a trailblazer in the world of chess, celebrated as the first African-American Grandmaster. A national championship coach, accomplished author, innovative app designer, puzzle inventor, ESPN commentator, and motivational speaker, he shares his passion for the game with audiences worldwide. Known for his dynamic, high energy commentary, he brings unparalleled excitement and insight to prestigious events including the World Chess Championship and the Grand Chess Tour. As founder of the new Maurice Ashley Fellowship, he continues to create opportunities for underrepresented players, fostering the next generation of champions. Inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame in 2016, Maurice is recognized for his exceptional contributions to the game and his efforts to demonstrate how chess transforms lives and drives success.
Modupeola Fadugba is a Nigerian artist whose work bridges the worlds of art, science, and social engagement. With a background in chemical engineering and economics, she approaches her art with a structured, analytical mindset, using painting, drawing, and installations to address issues of identity, justice, and human connection. Living and working in Ibadan, Fadugba's thought-provoking pieces offer fresh insights into the complex narratives shaping contemporary Nigeria.
Tunde Onakoya is a Nigerian National Chess Master and the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, a non-profit organization that uses chess as a tool to provide education, technology, and mentorship to children in underserved communities. His work has positively impacted over 10,000 children, with 500 receiving fully funded scholarships.
Tunde’s initiatives have garnered global recognition, featured on platforms such as BBC, Al-Jazeera, and Deutsche Welle. He is also known for his public speaking, including TEDx talks and appearances at the Oxford Africa Conference and DLD Conference in Germany. In 2023, he was named one of the 100 Most Impactful Africans by Ranks Africa.
His contributions to social change have earned numerous accolades, including the 2021 Future Awards Africa Prize for Community Action, the 2022 Business Insider Award for Social Entrepreneur of the Year, and the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria Award.
Lanisa S. Kitchiner serves as the Curator of African Art at the Toledo Museum of Art. She is an Africanist scholar with more than twenty years of progressive leadership experience in championing the arts, histories, and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora. Her most recent professional appointments include Executive Director of the Center for African Studies at Harvard University and Chief of the African and Middle Eastern Division of the Library of Congress. She previously served as director of education and scholarly initiatives at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art and as associate director of Howard University’s International Affairs Center, where she also holds a faculty appointment in African art history. Kitchiner’s board service includes the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the Modern Language Association, the Pan African World Heritage Museum (Ghana), the Museum of Black Civilizations (Senegal), and the African Studies Center at Howard University (Washington, DC).
Dr. Kitchiner holds a Ph.D. in African Studies and Research. Her curatorial practice, pedagogy, and scholarship are driven by an unshakeable commitment to broadening understanding about African innovation and contributions to global humanity. Her most recent exhibitions include Strategic Interplay: African Art and Imagery in Black and White (2024); Africa Unmasked: The Art of the Continent Across Time and Space (2023)
Individuals with disabilities, please indicate if you need accommodations, assistance or appropriate modifications to fully participate in this event by contacting Access Initiatives, [email protected]. Please note that while we endeavor to provide everyone with a positive visitor experience, last-minute requests may not be accommodated; we ask for requests to be made, at minimum, 3 days prior to the event.