Self Portrait 2020

Monica Ikegwu made this *Self Portrait* using monochromatic paints. It looks to me like the process starts from a place of deep looking, which leads to a sense of real vulnerability. There's something super interesting about the material aspects of this work. I'm particularly drawn to the reflection on her lips, where the paint appears almost wet, creating a focal point that’s both alluring and slightly unsettling. I keep thinking about how this is a self-portrait, and how the artist has chosen to represent herself in such a stark, yet intimate way. It's difficult to place Ikegwu within a direct lineage, though I think of artists like Alice Neel, who also had a knack for capturing the psychological depth of her sitters. In the end, *Self Portrait* is a painting that stays with you, inviting multiple interpretations and challenging our notions of identity and representation.