El Anatsui: Art and Life - Hardcover

"Vogel's book offers a rare look into the life and career of this singular artist." --Vogue "[T]his publication serves as the most comprehensive archive of Anatsui's art to date." --Choice "A great read on creative reuse of materials and contemporary African art in an international context." --Public Art Review "This exemplary monograph is what all artists would hope for, with biographical information, close attention to individual artworks, serious critical appraisal, and splendid, full-color illustrations....This book will interest anyone concerned with contemporary art, for its presentation and analysis of an important and singular body of work.' - The Art Blog

An African artist who has garnered worldwide recognition while based permanently in Nigeria, El Anatsui is best known for shimmering tapestries made from liquor bottle tops, which are part of the permanent collections of many of the world's great museums. Author Susan M. Vogel, who worked closely with Anatsui while directing a documentary film about the artist, offers a uniquely personal perspective on Anatsui and provides the first penetrating study of his artworks. Accompanied by nearly 150 images, this book traces his life-long exploration of mediums leading up to the bottle top art form that has captured the interest of the global art world. The book explores the artist's themes of loss, chaos and decay, his Nigerian University intellectual community, and his creative studio practice. Vogel traces the intertwined threads of Anatsui's ideas, life and art; from his youthful searching and desire to express Africa's history to today's work that can be immense and ethereal.