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February Spotlights: Alicia Brown, Zanele Montle, and Abdur Rahman Muhammad
- THE.CCART
- Feb 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 2
This February, THE.CCART highlights three remarkable artists whose works explore migration, identity, and belonging. Meet Alicia Brown, Zanele Montle, and Abdur Rahman Muhammad, whose powerful narratives offer unique insights into cultural continuity, displacement, and heritage.
Alicia Brown: Exploring Identity and Heritage
Alicia Brown, is a Jamaican artist who transforms traditional portraiture with a bold and contemporary approach. Her oil paintings replace the elaborate collars and garments of European aristocracy with unconventional materials like bubble wrap, balloons, and plants, reflecting themes of class, identity, and colonial history. These collars sit on the necks of regular people, who navigate the ongoing performance of creating an identity to gain acceptance. Set against vibrant, nature-inspired backdrops, Brown’s intimate oil paintings invite viewers to explore the shared humanity of her subjects while reflecting on the complexities of identity in a post-colonial context.
Zanele Montle: Reimagining Black Identity Through Everyday Life
Zanele Montle, a South African artist from Kwa Zulu Natal, captures the vibrancy of everyday life through her acrylic paintings, exploring themes of Black identity and community. Influenced by her Zulu heritage and personal experiences of migration, Montle’s work incorporates family photographs and design elements, creating a bridge between traditional and contemporary narratives. Her bold use of colour and dynamic compositions encourage viewers to reflect on notions of home, belonging, and cultural continuity, offering a fresh take on identity in an evolving world.
Abdur Rahman Muhammad: Reflecting on Migration and Belonging
Abdur Rahman Muhammad, a Ghanaian artist from Accra, uses oil paintings to explore personal and collective narratives of migration. His vibrant compositions challenge preconceived notions about cultural identity and belonging, often featuring figures and symbolic objects like the iconic ‘Ghana Must Go’ travel bag. Influenced by everyday encounters, historical contexts, and YouTube interviews, Muhammad’s work examines the tension between decisive action and introspection. By engaging with themes of displacement, hip-hop culture, and youth experiences, his art reframes migration as an experience of resilience and introspection, offering a nuanced perspective on contemporary Ghanaian life and its global resonance.
This February, explore the works of Alicia Brown, Zanele Montle, and Abdur Rahman Muhammad. Their art challenges perceptions of belonging, identity, and cultural heritage, inviting us to connect with personal and universal themes of resilience and self-discovery.
By THE.CCART
