Melvin Edwards: Crossroads

This exhibition explores the cross-cultural connections in Melvin Edwards’ sculpture from 1980 to the present. Edwards (American, b. 1937) was profoundly energized by his experience at a major arts festival in Lagos in 1977. Since then his work has increasingly connected to African art, languages, poetry, liberation politics, and philosophy. He has made reciprocal ties to many African countries, such as Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Senegal, where he has maintained a home for nearly 20 years. Through the presentation of 18 works from the artist’s Lynch Fragments series shown alongside a selection of larger sculpture, including the room-size installation, Agricole, Crossroads tells the story of Edwards’ travels, the people he engaged, and the larger social history of the period.