“The Beautyful Ones” Series #8 2018

Njideka Akunyili Crosby made “The Beautyful Ones” Series #8 with paint and collage to give us this layered image. Look at how she builds up the surface, letting different textures and patterns peek through! The cool blue tones in the child’s traditional dress contrast with the warmer background. I wonder what that deep red is behind him? It’s almost like a portal, or maybe a memory. The way the collaged images are subtly integrated reminds me of how we piece together our own identities from fragments of experience. And notice that the patterns on the clothing aren’t just decorative; they’re like little stories waiting to be unraveled. Maybe Akunyili Crosby is influenced by someone like Romare Bearden, who used collage to create narratives. What do you see? I think the beauty of this piece is that it invites us to bring our own interpretations to the table.