Gelede 2017

Laolu Senbanjo made this striking portrait, ‘Gelede,’ with paint on canvas. The black and white figure against the vibrant orange ground is so arresting, isn’t it? I love how the graphic quality of the lines dances between representation and abstraction. Look at the shapes on the face, and how they echo forms found elsewhere on the body. The painting feels immediate, with visible brushstrokes adding texture and depth to the otherwise flat planes of color. Notice the concentric circles and small lines—they’re almost like coded symbols, a kind of personal language embedded within the image. The use of bold color and pattern reminds me a little of artists like Keith Haring, who also played with surface and meaning. This piece is a reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, always finding new ways to express what it means to be human. There’s no one right answer, just a constant flow of ideas and interpretations.