Marcellina Akpojotor: Celebrating Heritage Through Art
Nigerian artist Marcellina Akpojotor has gained international recognition for her portraits that deeply explore themes of family, femininity, and female empowerment within contemporary African society. Utilizing multiple layers and materials, she adds unique texture to her works.
Nigerian artist Marcellina Akpojotor has gained international recognition for her portraits, which explore themes of family, femininity, and female empowerment in contemporary African society. She uses multiple layers and materials to add texture to her works.
Ode to Beautiful Memories
Her latest exhibition, “Ode to Beautiful Memories,” delves deeper into her family heritage over the years. One of the standout pieces, “Songs of Home,” showcases her female family members across five generations.
Her latest exhibition, “Ode to Beautiful Memories,” tells a deeper story of her family through the years. “Songs of Home” shows her female family members across five generations.
Tribute to Heritage
This work pays tribute to Akpojotor’s great-grandmother, who was a cassava farmer and always dreamed of the education she was denied.
This work pays tribute to Akpojotor’s great-grandmother, who was a cassava farmer and always dreamed of the education she was denied. Dreams in Bobozi Farm III, Fabric, Paper & Acrylic on Canvas, 2021.
Natural Elements in Art
Aspects of her great-grandmother’s life have been incorporated into Akpojotor’s creations, showcasing the red-brown color of the earth found in her home region.
Aspects of her great-grandmother’s life have been incorporated into Akpojotor’s work, such as the red-brown color of the earth found in the region she came from. Blooming Red Soil, Fabric, Paper & Acrylic on canvas, 2020.
Education as a Theme
Moreover, Akpojotor’s work elegantly traces the theme of education from her great-grandmother’s era to today. According to the UN, approximately 18.5 million children in Nigeria, predominantly girls, lack access to education.
Akpojotor’s work traces education from her great-grandmother’s era until today. According to the UN, 18.5 million children in Nigeria, mostly girls, do not have access to education. Quest for Education (Ode to Beautiful Memories), Fabric, Charcoal and Ink on paper & Acrylic on Canvas, 2020.
Innovative Techniques
For her abstract portraits, Akpojotor works exclusively with traditional acrylics and discarded Ankara fabric sourced from local fashion houses.
For her abstract portraits, Akpojotor works exclusively with traditional acrylics and discarded Ankara fabric collected from local fashion houses. Dede I, Fabric & Acrylic on Canvas, 2020.
Understanding Ankara Fabric
Introduced to Africa in the 19th century by Dutch merchants, Ankara fabric is now prevalent in homes across the continent.
Introduced to Africa in the 19th century by Dutch merchants, the fabric is now found in homes across the continent. Dreams in Bobozi Farm, Fabric, Paper & Acrylic on Canvas, 2020.
