Born in Enugu, Nigeria, Njideka Akunyili Crosby moved to the United States at the age of sixteen. She pursued her formal art education at Swarthmore College and later earned an MFA from Yale University, establishing her practice in Los Angeles.

Her work is characterized by the use of acrylic paint, charcoal, and solvent-transferred photographic images on paper and canvas. These compositions often depict intimate domestic interiors and social gatherings, layering personal and historical narratives to examine the complexities of cultural identity and the immigrant experience.

Akunyili Crosby has received significant institutional recognition for her contributions to contemporary painting, most notably being named a MacArthur Fellow in 2017. Her work is held in the collections of major museums, including the Tate and the Whitney Museum of American Art.