Your Proper Name
Jite Agbro
Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center
An artwork in mixed media imparts an awareness of legacy.
Jite Agbro was just two years old when she and her family came to the United States from Nigeria, but her heritage remains a powerful influence on her work. For Your Proper Name, as with many of her pieces, she drew inspiration from the human form and wearable accoutrements such as clothing, textiles, and jewelry.
Narratives in my work focus on the navigation of social systems and power structures with the use of emotional, physical, and psychological tools I call ‘armor. I began to develop the idea of armor after visiting family in Nigeria and spending time in Badagry, a former slave port town located on the Gold Coast in Lagos. The intense experience of confronting the painful legacy of slavery inspired me to create work about the ways in which we protect ourselves from our histories while simultaneously carrying those histories with us. –Jite Agbro
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Based in Seattle, Agbro makes colorful figurative prints that feature layered patterns, sharp contrast, and a mix of textures. She uses traditional and non-traditional printmaking techniques—such as collage, sewing, and encaustic—to transform paper and fabric into bold silhouettes. She began showing her work in the late 1990s and exhibits it regularly at Seattle-area galleries and museums.
About the Location
Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center
4Culture believes in juvenile justice reform that results in zero youth detention. We also believe artists can lead the way in enacting this change, as culture-bearers, storytellers, and community-builders. Every single artist involved with the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center project has demonstrated a commitment to uplifting young people. Likewise, all…
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