Thomas 2020

Monica Ikegwu made this painting, Thomas, with oils. It’s all about the push and pull of reds against blacks, but it's also a really subtle rendering of a figure in space. You can almost feel the give and take of the brushstrokes, as if the painting is constantly being reworked. The way she handles the oil paint is fascinating. Look how the red background almost glows, with these kind of ethereal folds like a theatre curtain! It creates this amazing tension with the crisp, almost photographic detail of the figure, especially the sheen on that black jacket. And the red accents on the coat echo that backdrop, pulling the whole image together. Notice the gesture of the hands. It’s very formal, like an alter piece. Then you notice his earring and the contemporary clothing. I can’t help but think of Barkley Hendricks, another painter who blended portraiture with a real sense of style and presence. Ultimately, though, Ikegwu's painting stands on its own, a testament to the power of observation and the endless possibilities of paint.