Royal Cap (Orikogbofo) c. 20th century

This beaded Royal Cap, Orikogbofo, was made by the Yoruba people, and sits here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Look at the way the beads aren’t just placed, they’re practically grown, encrusting the cap like shimmering barnacles. The texture is everything here; it’s not just the look of the beads, but the feel of them, how they catch the light and create this sort of vibrant, buzzing energy. The yellow is so rich, almost like honey, but then you see the dark specks mixed in, adding depth and complexity. There’s something so satisfying in the obsessive, careful labor that went into this, each bead individually placed, building up this dense, shimmering surface. Think of Liza Lou's beaded sculptures; there's a similar dedication to craft, and a transformation of everyday objects into something extraordinary. Art is never a solo act; it’s about how we keep talking to each other, across time and space. We layer our meanings, we add our own beads.