Nyado. The Thing Around Her Neck 2011

Njideka Akunyili Crosby made "Nyado. The Thing Around Her Neck" using a mix of acrylic, charcoal, and collage. The way Crosby layers images and patterns, it's like she's building up a history, one that you can almost touch. Look at how she uses different patterns and textures to create the figures – it's as if they're emerging from a sea of memory. The surface is alive with detail, each little piece of collage telling its own story. The way the figures lean into each other, it’s like they are caught in a moment of both tension and tenderness. There's something about the way Crosby combines different elements that reminds me of Romare Bearden, how he used collage to create these rich, layered narratives of Black life. Both artists invite us to see the world in a more complex way, embracing the beauty of imperfection and the power of personal stories.