The Fabrics of Marcellina

Born in 1989 in Lagos, Nigeria, Marcellina Akpojotor had her first apprenticeship under her father; assisting him with drawing, design, stencil, writing and calligraphy work before she eventually moved on to study Art and Industrial Design at the Lagos State Polytechnic.

Employing collaging and traditional painting techniques, Akpojotor produces richly textured and layered work with compelling visual imagery exploring femininity, personal and societal identity, familial history and women empowerment in contemporary society.

Working primarily with discarded pieces of the Ankara fabric – sourced from local fashion houses – commonly known as the ‘African print fabric’ despite its Dutch origin, she investigates the politics of the fabric as a cultural signifier and a conduit for memory and shared energy.