Africa Pop Studio explores the rich traditions and variations within African studio portraiture and considers its impact on the broader diaspora. Positioning Malick Sidibé as a source and touchstone for a new generation of artists such as Hassan Hajjaj and Mickalene Thomas, the exhibition evokes the mood of an African photography studio — a space of vibrant pattern and posed bodies.
Each piece adds its own voice to create a broader conversation in the ‘studio’ and the exhibition looks at the power of Afro-Pop across disciplines, including fashion, music, poetry, and design. Africa Pop Studio culminates in an evening of music, dance, spoken word, and West African fashions, on Saturday April 22.