ICA Boston Acquires Diverse Works by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, William Kentridge & More
To develop “richer artistic, cultural, and historical narratives.”
The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston has announced that 16 significant artworks have entered the museum’s permanent collection, reflecting its shift towards featuring more diverse perspectives and narratives. Included in the acquisition are major works by acclaimed Nigerian-born visual artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby, South African artist William Kentridge, and American contemporary artists Toyin Ojih Odutola and Tschabalala Self.
Crosby’s “The Beautyful Ones” Series #7 is part of a series of collaged and photo transfer-based paintings that incorporate images of children from the artist’s family photographs and snapshots taken in Nigeria to explore intergenerational memory. As a multidisciplinary artist, Kentridge builds up layers of drawings, moving images and texts onto sculptural paper props. His multimedia installation entitled KABOOM! tells the story of nearly two million African porters and carriers used by the British, French and Germans during World War I.
Elsewhere, Odutola’s Heir Apparent showcases the artist’s theme of reimagining Nigeria with fictional scenes, which often challenges narratives constructed by the West. Celebrating the black body — especially those of black women — Self’s Lite references psychological and emotional states through color, texture and abstract qualities.
“These new acquisitions introduce global and local perspectives and concerns to our publics, enabling the museum to create more dialogue around works of art within the Collection and develop richer artistic, cultural, and historical narratives,” said Eva Respini, the ICA’s Barbara Lee Chief Curator. “We look forward to sharing these works with our audiences and in the spring of 2021, we will open our most extensive and ambitious collection presentation to date.”
Take a look at some of the recently acquired works by ICA Boston in the gallery above. For information on the museum’s current exhibitions, head over to ICA Boston’s website.
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