Monica Ikegwu: Through the Veil

In 2024, The Columbus Museum’s Alma Thomas Society voted to acquire Chidera (2021), a painting by Baltimore-based artist Monica Ikegwu. Following the enthusiastic response to that acquisition, the idea emerged to invite Ikegwu to develop a solo exhibition for the Museum.

For Monica Ikegwu: Through the Veil, the artist has created an entirely new body of work, expanding on the monochromatic single and double portraits for which she has become widely recognized. In this exhibition, Ikegwu explores the interconnected ideas of concealment and revelation—how identity is shaped by what is shown, what is withheld, and what remains partially obscured. Several paintings feature a painted sheer curtain that veils portions of the sitter’s face or body, a recurring motif that prompts questions about visibility, security, and self-presentation. These carefully rendered oil portraits invite viewers to consider, “How well do we really know the people in our daily lives?” and “What do we hide from and make known to others?” COMU is proud to present Monica Ikegwu: Through the Veil, the artist’s first one-person museum-organized exhibition.