Sam 2021

Monica Ikegwu painted this portrait of Sam in oil with a close attention to process and finish. It’s all in blue! What immediately grabs me is the hyperrealism of the figure against the almost dreamlike background, like memories fading in and out. The way Ikegwu handles the paint, so smoothly and with such detail, makes you want to reach out and touch the canvas. Notice how she captures the texture of Sam's jacket, the way the fabric folds and creases, and the subtle shifts in value that give it depth. Then, look at his hands. The way they're clasped together, each finger carefully rendered, conveys a sense of quiet contemplation. There’s a slight surreal quality as well, Sam’s is almost like a memory, fading into the blue. This piece reminds me a little of Barkley L. Hendricks, in the way that it celebrates Black figures with such tenderness and care. Both artists invite us to see the beauty and humanity in their subjects, but Ikegwu makes a very personal statement here, and it's open to interpretation. It's this ambiguity, this invitation to question and explore, that makes art so powerful.