Among the many gems on view in Amy Sillman’s fifth-floor Artist’s Choice installation, this painting by Thomas Mukarobgwa was such a happy surprise. Back on view at MoMA after 54 years, I first saw this painting in storage as part of our C-MAP Africa group’s collection research. The stiff, arched figures are striking, as is the use of color: the relationship between black tones (the bodies and background) and color, mostly shades of red (eyes, landscape, seat or cloth?). The painting is one of several by the artist acquired by founding MoMA director Alfred Barr following his participation in the ICAC (International Conference of African Cultures) in 1962 in then-Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (Harare, Zimbabwe, today).

Submitted by Sarah Lookofsky, Associate Director, International Program