Blue Bliss 2018

Monica Ikegwu painted "Blue Bliss" sometime after she was born in 1998. The cool blues and purples create a calming, chill atmosphere, which for me really emphasizes the way artmaking is a process of feeling as much as seeing. Up close, you can really see the texture Ikegwu coaxes from the paint. In the quilted jacket, for instance, the shapes aren't just colored in, but built up with layers, giving it this fantastic, almost touchable quality. The highlights on the zipper catch the light, making it pop. And the way the light hits the skin, especially around the hand on his head, it's like she's feeling her way through the form. It's a sensitive rendering that reminds me of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s portraits, where the focus is less on capturing a likeness and more on conveying a mood, a presence. Ultimately, it feels like a conversation between artist and subject, an exchange of energy that transcends mere representation.