Ashanti

Lofton was engrossed in the study of African and Mexican Art, a continual search to identify the resemblance between them. After 25 years in Mexico he realized that, for certain groups in Mexican society, synthesizing African and Mexican art could have a potentially incendiary significance. He noted that the Ashanti concept of ideal beauty is long necks, high forehead and a small mouth. This reminded him of an exhibit he had where a woman, looking at his paintings said, “I just love your work, especially those long necks… you are surely influenced by Modigliani.” Lofton's answer was: “No ma’am, I was influenced by the Africans and so was Modigliani.”

Signed J Lofton (in script), lower left corner, vertically.

This work includes frame and certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.