Lucina Ward on Wangechi Mutu’s The seated IV

The seated IV is a larger-than-life-sized female figure—one of four female figures produced for The NewOnes, will free Us, a project at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art—and subsequently cast in a small edition. Historically, caryatids function as supports in Classical buildings. With this sculpture, Mutu considers what might happen if these female figures were released from their burdens.

Friday Art Talks are a free weekly program. Hear from artists, curators and experts on the works in our collection and exhibition program.