avatar

Empowering African American Portraiture: Unveiling the Artistic Journey of Monica Ikegwu

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter
The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter
Episode • May 19, 2021 • 24m

Monica Ikegwu is a Baltimore-based artist with a remarkable talent for African American portraiture, using vivid colors, intricate textures, and innovative compositions to capture the essence and power of her subjects. In a thought-provoking interview on "The Truth in This Art" hosted by Rob Lee, Monica shares her artistic journey, drawing inspiration from her family and surroundings, and her accomplishments, including prestigious awards like the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grant and the AXAArt prize. Throughout the conversation, she explores the significance of African American representation in the art world and its transformative impact on narratives and self-discovery. Discover how Monica's art transcends boundaries, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of identity, culture, and personal experiences. Gain insights into her process, inspirations, and ongoing evolution as she pursues her MFA studies at the esteemed New York Academy of Art.


Coming up, a deep dive into:

  • The world of Monica Ikegwu, a Baltimore-based figure painter with a specialization in African American portrait painting. Discover the captivating stories behind her artistic journey and her passion for empowering her subjects to express their true selves through their portraits.
  • Enlightening interview, Monica shares her unique approach to portraiture, allowing her subjects to take control of their poses, clothing, and props, resulting in authentic and empowering representations. Gain insights into her process and the profound impact it has on her subjects' self-expression.
  • Prepare to be amazed as Monica unveils her artistic process of capturing the essence of her subjects through her masterful use of monochromatic colors that beautifully complement their skin tones. Learn how she incorporates patterns inspired by their clothing into the background, adding depth and meaning to each portrait.
  • The diverse influences on Monica's artistry, drawing inspiration from contemporary portrait artists and expressing a keen interest in exploring the realms of minimalism and abstraction. Experience how these elements enrich her work and create powerful visual narratives.
  • Monica shares her dream project of collaborating with fashion designers and witnessing her stunning paintings adorning clothing on the runway. Be inspired by her aspirations to bridge the worlds of art and fashion, and the potential impact her art can have beyond traditional canvas displays.


Join us in celebrating the brilliance and resilience of Monica Ikegwu as she aims to create a diverse view of African American people by allowing her subjects to direct their own poses, clothing, and props. Monica captures their essence in her paintings, using monochromatic colors that complement their skin tones and incorporating patterns inspired by their clothing into the background. She draws inspiration from contemporary portrait artists and is also interested in minimalism and abstract work. Monica's dream project is to collaborate with fashion designers and see her paintings on clothing run down the runway.


🎧🌟 Don't forget to rate and review this episode to support the best in podcasting! 🌟🎧


Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

  • Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
  • Edited by Daniel Alexis
  • Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

  • Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
  • Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

★ Support this podcast ★