Wedding Souvenirs 2016

Njideka Akunyili Crosby made this painting, Wedding Souvenirs, with acrylic, charcoal, and transfers on paper. I’m really drawn to the way the picture seems to emerge from an underlying structure of patterned fabric—a dense, circular pattern printed with smiling faces. I imagine her carefully layering and collaging these materials. It makes me think about repetition and difference, about memory and how it layers up in our minds. Look at the woman’s yellow dress, painted with a light touch, and the heavy green turban. Then consider the cool, dark blue behind the mirror. The juxtaposition of these colors is amazing! You can almost feel her standing in the space, contained, looking at her reflection in the mirror. The painting process isn't just about reproducing reality but about creating a site of inquiry. Like how Akunyili Crosby references other paintings and the art of her community. It's an ongoing dialogue with other artists, a generous exchange that expands possibilities.