A portrait of British-born Nigerian actress, Beverly Naya’s has been selected among twelve other individual portraits by the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago for an exhibition which kicked off October 20.
The event will also feature The School of Nollywood, a grand group portrait representing a cross section of the industry by Ike Ude.
The young and talented actress showing off the picture on her Instagram page wrote; “Honoured to finally present to you a portrait of me by highly acclaimed performance artist Ike Ude for his Nollywood portraits: ‘A Radical Beauty’.”
Artist Ike Ude, who in 2014, returned to Lagos, Nigeria, after three decades away, took photographs of 64 Nollywood personalities.
Ude was said to have captured an impressive cross section of the industry including renowned screen icon Genevieve Nnaji, veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, established actor/director Stephanie Okereke, maverick filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, as well as the next generation of rising stars.
The objective of the project, according to the organisers, is to celebrate these African celebrities in the timeless, classic, elegant style the artist is known for. Udé has also created a grand group portrait of all 64 subjects; The School of Nollywood, inspired by Raphael’s The School of Athens, 1509; a publication featuring forward by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and an introduction by Chigozie Obioma will accompany the exhibition.
Like The School of Athens, The School of Nollywood is reported to measure 16 ft 5 in x 25 ft 3 in (500 cm x 770 cm).
