“When a woman says yes, her Chi also says yes” — Ibo Proverb
Monben is an award-winning multi-media artist, poet, scholar, teacher, and anthropologist. She is from Newark, New Jersey and was born in Monrovia, Liberia. She began her career as a painter in 2015, and has since completed over 30 art commissions & projects. Her work has been featured in displayed in Paul Vincent Studios, Seed Gallery, Macy Art Gallery, Columbia University, the Newark Arts Festival, and elsewhere.
Monben received a Bachelor of Arts in African and African American Studies from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and a Master of Arts in Anthropology and Education from Columbia University. Her portfolio and resume are comprised of projects which bridge art, history, and storytelling; and, using art as a means of public education is the main focus of her work. Monben is from Newark, New Jersey and was born in Monrovia, Liberia. She is of Bassa and Gbande descent.
AWARDS + HONORS
Myers Foundation Art Commission Award, Gottesman Libraries, March 2022
Margaret Mead Scholarship, Teachers College – Columbia University, September 2021
Summa Cum Laude, Rutgers, the Sate University of New Jersey, May 2021
School of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Award, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, May 2021
W.A. Jean Pierre Award of Excellence, Dept. African American & African Studies @ Rutgers, May 2021
Eva R. Cohn Scholarship, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, September 2021
Guest Research Scholar, University of Delaware’s Anti-racism Initiative, June 2020
Ronald E. McNair Scholar, January 2020
Panelist, Mars-Wrigley’s “New Work in Newark” Conference, November 2019
Toast to a Queen Community Service Award, Black Organization of Students, March 2018
Education
M.A. Anthropology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
B.A. African and African American Studies, double minor in Psychology; Public and Non-Profit Administration, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Monben Art 