Bruce Onobrakpeya's THE MASK AND THE CROSS Opens in Washington D.C.
by OYIZA ADABA, Washington D.C.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art is showcasing works by sculptor and printmaker Bruce Onobrakpeya, considered one the fathers of postcolonial Nigerian modernism.
Oyiza Adaba takes viewers inside “Bruce Onobrakpeya's: The Mask and the Cross”, on view June 21 - Jan. 21, 2025. The exhibition features works by the artist from 1966 through 1978, a period when he completed multiple commissions for the Catholic Church, including his seminal “Fourteen Stations of the Cross” series. The exhibition also recognizes Onobrakpeya’s legacy - inspiring generations of visual artists in Nigeria - with artworks from the museum’s collection that reflect Onobrakpeya’s influence. The opening ceremony was graced with dignitaries from diplomatic corp to art lovers, collectors and family members.
The National Museum of African Arts is celebrating 60 years of showcasing unique art from Africa, with a summer lineup that also include, ‘Benin Bronzes’: Ambassadors of the Oba, ‘Before Nollywood: The Ideal Photo Studio’, Ayana V Jackson’s 'Into The Deep’, John Akomfrah’s ‘Five Mumirations’, and ‘Water in African Arts’ exhibitions.