U.S Museum Unearths Forgotten Yoruba modernists

Yoruba artists who lived between the ninteenth and twentieth centuries are among 13 African Master Carvers whose sculptures are being focused, currently, by an exhibition at Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), U.S.

 

Epa sculpture in wood by Ekiti-born artist, Agbonbiofe

According to the museum,  one of the  Nigerian masters of Yoruba descent Bamgboye (1893—1978), “lived in Ekiti”, a part of Nigeria now known as southwest.  Among the artist’s works  is a piece said to have been in the collection of American actor Vincent Price. The work is a depiction of the popular Epa mask of the Yoruba.

  Also, Agbonbiofe, whose date  of birth is not known, but documented as ‘died’ in 1945 is also showing in the group exhibition. Agbonbiofe is showing what the museum describes as Female figure with a bowl (Olumeye) dated as pre-1945. “Carved by the Yoruba artist Agbonbiofe (died 1945). Nigeria, Ekiti region, Efon-Alaiye village. Wood, pigment; h 36.8 cm. Collection of Laura and James J. Ross, New York.” READ MORE.