Judge Me 2017

Monica Ikegwu's painting "Judge Me" is made with oil, and it feels like it was made *through* the paint rather than *with* the paint. There is so much to unpack in terms of the material aspects of this piece. The surface is relatively smooth but has a texture that invites you to reach out and touch it. In terms of a particular mark, it's the red band around the leg that stands out. It disrupts the linear form of the figure, becoming a focal point that mirrors the pills in the bottom right corner, adding to the visual tension. Ikegwu's work reminds me a little of Marlene Dumas, particularly in the way both artists explore the complexities of the human figure and emotional states. And like all great art, this piece embraces ambiguity.