Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa

Reviewed: Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa, curated by Constantine Petridis and Susan Elizabeth Gagliardi, held at Cleveland Museum of Art, February 22–May 31, 2015. With nearly 160 works on display, Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa explored and challenged established definitions of “Senufo,” perhaps one of the most well-known categories of African art. Working through the five galleries, visitors learned of the historical underpinnings of Senufo as an ethnic, linguistic, and stylistic classification. Visitors were encouraged to challenge their understandings of these classifications through close looking and comparisons of like objects. Finally, they were asked to rethink the stylistic categories by reexamining objects that tend to be outside of the established canon. The brilliant displays and excellent selection of objects provided a visually stunning experience, while the expert organization and insightful texts presented an intricate educational narrative. These two aspects worked together to create one of the most sophisticated and provocative contemporary exhibitions of classical African art to date.