Portals 2016

Njideka Akunyili Crosby made 'Portals,' mixing paint, collage, and print to explore complex ideas about identity and belonging. Crosby's work reflects the lives of people who, like her, live between cultures. Looking at the artwork, you can see how the patterns and images create meaning. The repeated images, textiles, and interior scenes evoke a sense of home and memory. This visual language speaks to the artist’s Nigerian heritage and her life in the United States. What does it mean to be both Nigerian and American? How do these different cultural contexts shape the artist’s sense of self? And how do personal and family histories influence artistic expression? To understand Crosby’s work, we need to look at the social and institutional contexts that shape artistic production. Researching the artist’s biography, her cultural background, and the art world institutions that support her work can provide valuable insights. It’s in this way that art history helps us to understand the meaning of art.