African Tales in Lines and Spaces is a reflection of how I feel when I look at the world around me—especially the towering structures, the geometry of city life, and the subtle elegance found in everyday fashion. This painting, and the larger collection it belongs to, was created from a space of emotion and observation. I didn’t begin with a strict plan. Instead, I followed a feeling—one that reminded me of skyscrapers in movies and the large buildings that stand tall in my own community.
As I created, I kept thinking about windows—those repeating shapes that line the surfaces of high-rise buildings. Each line I drew, each rectangular or square form, felt like a window—like a point of light shining through from inside. The straight lines in the composition aren’t just marks; they’re symbolic of architectural structure, rhythm, and repetition. They represent the organized chaos of a city, the silent stories held within its walls.
But this work isn’t just about buildings. It’s also about people—what they wear, how they move through city spaces, how their presence brings the streets to life. That’s where fashion comes in. I stitched real buttons into the canvas and glued down pieces of newspaper with fashion images to evoke the texture and detail of clothing. These elements bring a tactile, wearable quality to the artwork, turning the city into a runway, and the canvas into a celebration of urban style.
This fusion of architecture and fashion creates a visual story that is both personal and cultural. The work speaks of the modern African experience—of cities growing, changing, and influencing how we live and express ourselves. It’s a tale of structure and softness, of the contrast between concrete lines and creative flair.
The materials used in this 32 by 32-inch piece include buttons, marker, newspaper, and acrylic on canvas. Each one adds a layer of meaning—structure, texture, narrative. Together, they create a work that is as much about feeling as it is about form.
African Tales in Lines and Spaces is my tribute to the modern city and the people who fill it—dressed in style, surrounded by stories, and framed by windows of light.
