Dr. Elizabeth Perrill
A Companion to Modern African Art Edited by Gitti Salami and Monica Blackmun Visonà
During my time at UNCG, the field of African Art History has flourished and expanded, particularly in the sub-discipline of Global Modernisms. Though the first degree in my field was granted in 1957, we are only now piecing together histories of distinctive African modernist movements that were thriving from the mid-19th century onward. Mid-20th century African art historians were often focused on sculptural traditions with religious uses, but mid-20th century African urban artists were often part of global art worlds. I have selected A Companion to Modern African Art to mark my attainment of tenure because it captures the dynamism of this vast continent's painting schools, photography studios, and architectural workshops. Moreover, this book demonstrates that scholarship still has the power to surprise and challenge assumptions of experts and students alike.