I Still Face You 2015

Njideka Akunyili Crosby made "I Still Face You" with a combination of painting, drawing, and collage using materials like acrylic, charcoal, and transfers. The artist’s process has a huge impact on the way we experience the work. Look closely, and you’ll see how the collage elements create layers of meaning. The images come from family photos, personal ephemera, and Nigerian magazines. The act of layering these materials speaks to memory, identity, and cultural hybridity. Akunyili Crosby carefully composes her works. She draws on her experiences of living between Nigeria and the United States, mixing her personal story with broader social and political themes. There’s also a dialogue with art history, drawing from both Western painting traditions and West African visual culture. Ultimately, Akunyili Crosby’s work defies simple categorization. The artist invites us to appreciate the power of materials and processes to tell complex, layered stories about identity, memory, and belonging.