She’s Aware 2021

Monica Ikegwu's ‘She’s Aware’ is, I imagine, made with oil on canvas, layering tones of brown and blue to create a portrait of calm introspection. I’m struck by Ikegwu’s approach; it's so assured! You can see the time she spent building up the image layer by layer. I love the texture Ikegwu creates, especially the folds in the blue fabric. Each stroke of paint seems carefully considered, yet there's a looseness that keeps it from feeling too tight. Notice how the glossy sheen on her lips contrasts with the matte texture of the background. That tension is like the push and pull in a good relationship, or maybe a really great painting. It's a little like Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's work, with its focus on the figure and a similar approach to colour, but Ikegwu brings her own unique voice to the conversation. ‘She’s Aware’ invites us to slow down, to contemplate, and to appreciate the beauty of the everyday.