Something Split and New 2013

Njideka Akunyili Crosby made this painting, "Something Split and New," with acrylic, charcoal, and collage on paper. It’s a riot of pattern, and the color is so dialed up that it vibrates. I love the surface. Crosby has built it up with layers of collage that peek through the paint, creating a push-pull effect. The figures seem to emerge from this ground, solid and present, yet also somewhat spectral. Look closely at the collage elements, and you can see how they function both as a backdrop and as a kind of symbolic language. The layering and juxtaposition of images, paint, and charcoal create a sense of depth and complexity, reflecting the artist's personal experience of cultural hybridity. There's a tension here between representation and abstraction that feels very alive. Like Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Crosby creates a sense of intimacy, inviting us into a world that feels both familiar and unknown. It’s a process of continuous exploration, where meaning is never fixed but emerges through the act of looking and feeling.