Occasionally an extraordinary work or an extraordinary artist causes us to modify our objective of only showing established artists. When African American sculptor Melvin Edwards brought Khrispen Matekenya to my attention, I was skeptical about his young age and lack of experience. When I found the work Male Torso, I knew that Mel was on to something. Chrispen's work is not without recognition. His work has been highly recommended in the large annual show, with an international jury, at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.

 

Nnenna Okore is one of the gallery’s emerging artists and it must be added that she is quickly emerging. Nnenna comes with a pedigree of having studies under El Anatsui at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for four years, thereafter managing his studio for another year. However, rather than follow in El’s very successful footsteps she has developed her own way of working with clay, paper and bark. Her exhibit at Contemporary African Art Gallery brought her the exposure that has allowed her to follow with five shows in the United Kingdom and other in places as diverse as Paris, India and Senegal. Back in New York she was also in the inaugural show at the Museum for Arts and Design.

 

Fode Camara is, arguably, the most extraordinary colorist in Africa. While his colors are seductive, his message is serious and profound. He is one of the few artists I have found who has commented, in his work, on Goree Island; the Senegalese place from which most slaves were sent off to America. He has had many shows throughout Europe and was among the small groups of artists to be in the first contemporary show at the Museum for African Art in New York. This gallery has placed one of his major works in the permanent collection of the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian.