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Njideka Akunyili-Crosby’s I Refuse to Be Invisible (2013). PHOTO: Courtesy of the artist
Though women in the arts have suffered under-representation and been written out of the history books, some are demystifying the art space, which is helping them to make the desired statement. One of such female artists is Njideka Akunyili-Crosby.
Akunyili-Crosby is exploding the myth of ‘authentic African experience’. Her art “negotiates the cultural terrain between her adopted home in America and her native Nigeria, creating collage and photo transfer-based paintings that expose the challenges of occupying these two worlds”.
Akunyili-Crosby mixes the classic academic western technique with her personal life, Nigerian and American culture and African traditions. She composes scenes from her everyday life between two countries, using western elements like portra
Agony by Omogbai
Women in Nigerian visual arts sector have suffered under-representation. In fact, the ratio of male to female artists in Nigeria is imbalanced in favour of men.
In art schools, men are a majority of faculty members. There is equally imbalance in both enrolment of visual art students at various academic levels and graduate turnouts.
The dearth of female artists who’ve achieved the big time, in sales, reputation, academic attention or general acclaim is also obvious.
The disparity between male and female artists in Nigeria is further emphasised by the low participation rates of female artists relative to male artists in organised professional exhibitions.
ART-ICLES
South South Veza looms. For this South South’s inaugural event, kó features a solo presentation by Peju Alatise, one of Africa’s leading female contemporary artists. Through the event, South South (a gallery-led online community, anthology, live resource and aggregator dedicated to art from the so-called Global South and its diaspora) hosts over 50 other galleries “from more than 40 cities spread across 30 countries and five continents” from Tuesday, February 23 to Sunday, March 7.
At kó’s formal launch on Friday, September 25, its visionary founder Kavita Chellaram – hitherto renowned in the Lagos art circles for her trailblazing auction house Arthouse Contemporary and its satellite projects (Arthouse -The Space and Arthouse Foundation) – enthused about her creating “a separate and unique gallery entity”.
From Lagos to Los Angeles, an African Art Gallery Arrives
Adenrele Sonariwo has brought her Nigerian sensibility to Melrose Avenue, with a show focusing on women.
Adenrele Sonariwo, a Nigerian art dealer, opened an outpost of the Rele Gallery in Los Angeles with a show called “Orita Meta,” a Yoruba phrase loosely translated as “a junction where three roads meet.” It shows three emerging female artists.Credit.Phylicia J. L. Munn for The New York Times
Feb. 17, 2021
LOS ANGELES It certainly didn’t feel like a gallery opening. There was no crowd. No wine and cheese. Only a few people were allowed in at a time because of Covid-19 restrictions.