El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You About Africa

When I Last Wrote to You about Africa, a major retrospective of internationally renowned artist El Anatsui organized by the Museum for African Art, includes approximately sixty works drawn from public and private collections worldwide.

The Ghanaian-born El Anatsui, who lives and works in Nigeria, is widely known for monumental wall sculptures made from discarded bottle tops, and is recognized as one of the most original and compelling artists of his generation. The exhibition spans four decades and encompasses work in wood, ceramic, and metal, as well as drawings, prints and paintings. In his most recent metal wall sculptures, Anatsui assembles thousands of west African liquor-bottle tops into moving patterns of stunning visual impact, transforming this simple material into large shimmering forms. When I Last Wrote to You about Africa presents the largest compilation of Anatsui’s works ever assembled, including massive wall pieces and large-scale floor installations. The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue published with the assistance of The Getty Foundation.