African Market Woman Statuette in Recycled Metal, "'Market Woman Return II'"

Entitled "Market Woman Return II" by Kola Ogunsunlade Joseph, we see depicted a woman holding her basket under her arm. Rather than balancing it on her head as she would do if it were full and she were beginning the selling of her wares, her curved posture suggests the fatigue felt at the end of a hard day. The viewer senses a tangible identification on the part of the artist for the plight of the African woman and, by extension, for the toils and tribulations of all women.

Taking an average of four days to create each sculpture, Kola Ogunsunlade Joseph carefully assembles pre-prepared metal plates and objects he has found and fuses them with arc welding materials. An application of a clear varnish protects the piece and adds a gleaming, elegant finish.