"1. Abdulrazaq Awofeso at Ed Cross
For 1-54, Ed Cross put together “Broad Streets,” a presentation meant as a prelude to the first show he’s doing with Abdulrazaq Awofeso at his namesake London gallery space in the spring. The display consists of new sculptural portraits collaged from discarded wooden pallets usually employed for the transportation of good around the world. They feature people the artist has encountered on two roads sharing the same name, one in Birmingham, England, and the other at a commercial centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
These hand-painted characters escape categorization, reinforcing the parallel between both locations. Awofeso, who recently moved from Lagos to Birmingham, has always been on the move—“in transit,” in his words. His work offers a powerful reflection on human migration and the corruption that sometimes goes along with it. It’s also a commentary on how we are all on our personal journey. To Ed Cross, he is “Africa’s brightest young art star.”"
