Crossing 2017

Monica Ikegwu made "Crossing" with oil paint, and right away you can see she's thinking about how colors vibrate against each other. It's like a quiet hum you can almost feel. There's a push and pull between the smooth skin and the more angular background, which creates an interesting tension. Look at how the light catches the knuckles, each one a tiny landscape of color. And notice how those fierce nails echo the lines behind her – like she’s part of the architecture, or maybe the architecture is part of her. This piece has a controlled energy, a deliberate use of color and form. I am reminded of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, the way she builds her figures out of color relationships, suggesting a world of feeling with a few well-chosen tones. Isn't it wild how a painting can hold so much without saying a word?