Gelede Unmasks

Medium

Giclée on paper

Year

2026

Gelede Unmasks catches a male figure mid-removal of a Gelede mask, both hands raised to either side of his face in the act of lifting it off, the mask raised several inches above his head and not yet fully removed. Beneath the lifted mask, the charcoal face below is revealed, unreadable as always. He wears the full Gelede costume of layered cloth skirts associated with the feminine form. In the three-inch gap between the mask he lifts and the face it was covering, a woman’s face is briefly and softly visible, the face the masquerade was always honouring, present only in the moment of the unmasking. This layered and conceptually rich mixed media fine art print is Giclée printed on museum quality 310gsm Textured Fine Art Cotton Rag and limited to just 20 prints worldwide. A defining piece of Nigerian painting that rewards close and patient looking. Available at Naija Art Store.