William Villalongo (American, born 1975). "Muses (Artifact 1), 2012
From performances during the Stone Age to being co-opted by Picasso and Matisse, African masks have been part of art's vocabulary for centuries, although today's iterations have a decidedly fresher face. "Disguise: Masks and Global African Art," opening Friday at the Brooklyn Museum, offers 25 contemporary African artists' takes on the medium: a mix of neon signs, video portraits, and multimedia installations, with their centuries-old cowrie-shell counterparts close at hand, too. Get a look inside, here.
- Stephanie Eckardt