portraits of nigerian women

Complete set portrait Formation (2).jpg

Hannah spent a week in Northern Nigeria in September 2018, for an art project with survivors of sexual violence at the hands of Boko Haram and Fulani militants, facilitated by Open Doors.

Following her time in Northern Nigeria, Hannah painted portraits of the women she had met. For the portraits she used sacred imagery and early Renaissance tempera and Byzantine icon painting techniques. The headdresses are lapis lazuli blue, a precious pigment traditionally reserved for paintings of the Virgin Mary. The patterns in gold leaf are inspired by indigo-dyed fabric from the region.