How

El

Anatsui

Broke

the

Seal

on

Contemporary

Art

In a richly detailed profile for The New Yorker, art critic Julian Lucas traces the extraordinary career of El Anatsui, the Ghanaian-born, Nigeria-based artist renowned for his monumental wall sculptures made from discarded bottle caps and found materials. The article explores how Anatsui's practice—rooted in the traditions of African art yet boundary-pushing in form—has redefined global perceptions of contemporary sculpture. Lucas reflects on the artist’s impact on institutions and audiences worldwide, charting his rise from modest beginnings to international acclaim, and illustrating how Anatsui has opened new pathways for artists from the Global South within the Western canon.