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Bámigbóyè: A Master Sculptor of the Yorùbá Tradition at Yale University Art Gallery

Contributed by Chris Chew on Nov 23rd, 2022. Artwork published in
September 2022
.
A view of the exhibition entrance including the title and intro text
Jessica Smolinski. License: All Rights Reserved.

A view of the exhibition entrance including the title and intro text

Bámigbóyè: A Master Sculptor of the Yorùbá Tradition is an exhibition curated by James Green at the Yale University Art Gallery, which celebrates Nigerian artist Moshood Olúṣọmọ Bámigbóyè (ca. 1885–1975), a Yorùbá woodcarver regarded for his intricately crafted sculptures and ceremonial masks. Exhibition graphics designed by Chris Chew.

The medium-to-heavy weight range of the variable typeface Job Clarendon by David Jonathan Ross and Bethany Heck echoes formal elements of prominent works in the exhibition. Similarities can be drawn between Bámigbóyè’s sculptures depicting multiple figures connected by a sturdy, flat base and the letterforms comprised of strokes grounded by sturdy slab-serifs, particularly when the “connected serifs” stylistic set is employed. Job Clarendon’s woodtype origins also link the typeface to the artist’s craft.

Archivo was chosen as the secondary typeface due to the proportional similarities when using a narrow variant.

A color-coded timeline of the historical events and events related to the artist, applied in vinyl
Jessica Smolinski. License: All Rights Reserved.

A color-coded timeline of the historical events and events related to the artist, applied in vinyl

Vinyl installation
Photo: Chris Chew. License: All Rights Reserved.

Vinyl installation

Bámigbóyè: A Master Sculptor of the Yorùbá Tradition at Yale University Art Gallery 4
Photo: Chris Chew. License: All Rights Reserved.
Bámigbóyè: A Master Sculptor of the Yorùbá Tradition at Yale University Art Gallery 5
Photo: Chris Chew. License: All Rights Reserved.
Exhibition identity sketches
Photo: Chris Chew. License: All Rights Reserved.

Exhibition identity sketches

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