Cap 2021

Monica Ikegwu, born in 1998, created this portrait, “Cap,” with what looks like thin layers of oil paint. It's all about seeing how process can build a mood. I’m really drawn to the way Ikegwu uses color to set an emotional tone. Check out the blues, which wrap everything in a cool atmosphere. The painting isn’t just about the subject; it's about color temperature. It gives me a similar feeling to early David Hockney. Take a close look at the woman's skin. The artist has created this glowing and luminous surface using the thinnest washes of paint. The surface texture is also very delicate, especially in the rendering of the fur coat. See how these blues create a sense of depth and texture. Ikegwu shows us that a painting can be an ongoing exploration. Just like life, art is not about finding the right answers, but about embracing the questions.