Teju Cole

Teju Cole is a Nigerian-American writer, art historian, and photographer known for his critically acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction. He serves as the Distinguished Writer in Residence at Bard College. His literary career spans genres including novels, essays, and criticism, often exploring themes of migration, identity, and visual culture.

Born to Nigerian parents in Lagos, Cole grew up in a bilingual household where his mother taught French and his father worked as a business executive. His early creative pursuits included publishing cartoons in Nigeria's "Prime People" magazine as a teenager before immigrating to the United States at seventeen. Cole studied art history and briefly attended medical school before dedicating himself to writing and visual arts. He currently resides in Brooklyn while maintaining his academic position at Bard College.