Chances are that when you think of the term “African art” what comes to mind are figures and face masks carved out of wood.

Right?

Well, you’re not wrong. Most sub-Saharan art fits that description. But an exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond reveals another tradition that puts the lie to this stereotype.

“Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria” [open until May 22nd] opens our eyes to the astonishingly realistic human figures cast in metal or terra cotta more than 500 years ago in the ancient West African city-state of Ife (pronounced EE-fay).

These elegant and captivating statues change the way we think of Africa and Africans, and for that reason

this might be the most important African art exhibition anywhere right now.

read the entire article at The Washington Post