Njideka Akunyili Crosby

Baltimore Museum of Art

An installation view of a gallery with white walls and a pale wood floor. The photograph focuses on a long wall hung with two paintings. The paintings depict the same person, wearing the same dress, sitting at different tables in different rooms. Each room is highly detailed with patterns of wallpaper, carpet, and objects. On our left, the figure sits at a round, wood table on a red chair. Their dark brown hands lay flat on the table near a to-go cup of coffee, and they stare off towards something on the other side of the room, outside of the painting. They appear to be contemplating rather than anticipating. On our right, the same figure sits at a green, rectangular table with a coffee mug. They appear to be looking down at something at their feet and the arch of one foot is raised on its toes. Their legs are covered in dark blue stockings with no shoes in both paintings.

Painting of a woman with dark skin in a dress with a richly-colored, geometric pattern sitting at a light green table with a striped tea kettle and mug. Much of the floor appears to be a blue-tinged collage of photographs or newspaper clippings. One wall holds a large portrait of a standing couple with dark and medium-dark skin tones in matching yellow clothing, holding hands. The wall behind the portrait is papered with what looks like a traditional African textile pattern. The arches of the woman's feet are raised, and she is looking down at her right foot. Where the ball of her right foot touches the ground, the blue-tinged, collaged floor is met with an area painted a flat green.

Detail of the painting of the figure in a patterned dress sitting at a light green table. A ceramic mug and yellow and black striped tea kettle sit on the table. The figure's dress has a blue, yellow, black, and white geometric pattern, and they are bending slightly forward, eyes cast downward. Behind the figure, a painted image of a plant in shadows and what looks like a traditional African textile pattern are collaged together to form the corner of the room.

An installation image showing the corner of a gallery with white or cream walls and pale wood floors. One large painting hangs on each wall. On our left, the painting depicts the interior of a room with a corner of a brown couch draped with lace. The room is divided by open blue curtains leading to another room with a matching brown couch, a tv, a large family portrait and wallpaper with a portrait of a figure wearing traditional African garments including a headwrap, earrings, and necklace, with a banner below the portrait that reads "Dora Akunyili." The wallpaper is also patterned with the words "service to the people" written at consistent intervals. The floor appears to be made of a collage of newspaper clippings. <br><br>On the wall to our right is a vertically-oriented painting depicting a light green floating shelf with a tray. On the tray is a white tea pot, a blue china plate, an open sardine can, a can of soda, a blue box and another small can. To the left of the tray is a brown box, a blue and white striped doll or figurine, and a pink water pitcher. Over the table are photographs and a poster that reads "p square personally" in all capital letters. The right side of the picture is a collage of photographs or magazine clippings.

The painting depicting the interior of a room with brown couches and blue curtains. Through the blue curtains is another room with a matching brown couch, a tv, a large family portrait and and wallpaper with a portrait of a figure wearing traditional African garments including a headwrap, earrings, and necklace, with a banner below the portrait that reads "Dora Akunyili." The wallpaper is also patterned with the words "service to the people" written at consistent intervals. The floor appears to be made of a collage of newspaper clippings.

Vertically-oriented painting depicting a light green floating shelf with a tray. On the tray is a white tea pot, a blue china plate, an open sardine can, a can of soda, a blue box and another small can. To the left of the tray is a brown box, a blue and white striped doll or figurine, and a pink water pitcher. Over the shelf is a poster that reads "p square personally" in all capital letters and a stack of records. On the cover of the top record is a figure with dark skin in a bright red and gold bandleader uniform against a blue background. In the top left corner, cursive text reads Kris Okotie. On closer inspection, this same image appears a few times in the collage of photographs or magazine clippings that takes up the right side of the picture. The p square poster features a blue-tinted, grayscale image of four figures with dark skin in fedoras spaced out evenly across what looks like a stage and one figure wearing mostly white posing on top of a piano. Behind them is a blown-up image of Michael Jackson's face.

Detail of the vertically-oriented painting depicting a light green floating shelf with a tray. On the tray is a white tea pot, a blue china plate, an open sardine can, a can of soda, a blue box and another small can. To the left of the tray is a brown box, a blue and white striped doll or figurine, and a pink water pitcher. Over the shelf is a poster and a stack of records. The cover of the top record features a figure with dark skin in a bright red and gold bandleader uniform against a blue background. In the top left corner, cursive text reads Kris Okotie. The p square poster features a blue-tinted, grayscale image of four figures with dark skin in fedoras spaced out evenly across what looks like a stage and one figure wearing mostly white posing on top of a piano. Behind them is a blown-up image of Michael Jackson's face.

An installation view of the corner of a gallery with white walls and pale wood floors. A large painting hangs on each of two walls. The painting on our left depicts a domestic scene set inside a living room. In the foreground, a large floating shelf hangs on a light and dark purple striped wall beneath an oval mirror. In the center of the shelf stands an ornate silver object with four arms holding small crystal bowls of what look like different candies, including m&amp;m's, around a larger, central bowl containing what looks like Chex Mix. There are two shirtless, black figurines at either side, who are holding up two clamshell-shaped trays draped around their shoulders, on which are stacked small pink candies and chocolates. In the mirror above the shelf, a figure with dark skin and a bright, patterned dress is reflected, their eyes looking down at the table. Beyond this wall, we can glimpse a pristinely-furnished living room.<br><br>On the right wall is another painting of an interior with deep teal walls. A huge rubber fig plant with dark leaves blocks the foreground. Behind it is a table with four chairs and a red armchair to our left. On the table is a laptop, and what looks like two iPhones and a pad of post-it notes. The floor, ceiling, refrigerator, and several of the walls appear to be plastered with newspaper clippings or a collage of old photographs.

Njideka Akunyili CrosbyCounterpartsBaltimore Museum of Art

Exhibition Images

Njideka Akunyili CrosbyCounterparts
Baltimore Museum of Art