Juxtaposing modern and contemporary references, Kenyan native Wangari Mathenge's work is dedicated to the investigation and incorporation of an integrated visual testimony of the oft-discounted black female experience within the context of both traditional African society and the Diaspora. Shifting the dialogue around painting and identity, Mathenge's portraits highlight these silent exchanges and hierarchal dynamics. Often depicting people with whom she has significant relationships, her paintings are realised through structured compositions emboldened with gestural strokes and mark making.
