Crossing 2017

Monica Ikegwu’s oil painting, "Crossing," is a mesmerizing exploration of portraiture against a geometric backdrop. The canvas is dominated by the figure's gaze, averted from us, as her hand comes up to her face, adorned with striking black nails and a simple ring. I can imagine Ikegwu building up these layers of warm brown paint, and then the deep matte black of the hair and nails to construct the figure. The way the light falls across her face is so subtle and captivating, it gives the person an ethereal almost sculptural quality. Behind, thin lines of violet paint crisscross, adding a layer of abstraction. I imagine Ikegwu carefully measuring out these lines. It seems to be a nod to the artist’s desire to combine elements of realism with abstract design. Ikegwu seems to be in conversation with the long tradition of portraiture while asking, 'how can I make this new?' In the end, paintings open up a space where both the artist and the viewer can meet, think, and feel together.