Let’s Braid 2020

Cornelius Annor made "Let's Braid" and what strikes me is the layering. The ochre background is scumbled, with these playful, almost doily-like stencils, and then broad white brushstrokes, just casually, right over the top. There’s a real material presence in the painting. The texture is visible, like you could almost touch it. The girls have this warm, earthy tone, painted in a way that feels so present. Then, boom, there’s that textile at the bottom—a whole other layer of pattern and texture, grounding the scene. Look at the face of the girl in the yellow shirt. Her expression is subtle, but it says so much about patience, trust, and maybe even a little discomfort. I see echoes of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye in Annor's approach to figuration. Both artists capture a quiet, introspective mood, but Annor’s added the textile, it gives the piece a unique, layered story to tell. It reminds you that art is an ongoing, evolving conversation.