Alfred Conteh’s “Acceptance: Identity & Circumstance” at Atlanta Art Week

Atlanta Art Week is in full swing, and with it the showcasing of Alfred Conteh’s latest solo show, “Acceptance: Identity & Circumstance.”& Opened on Friday, October 4, 2024, this showcase highlights Conteh’s exploration of Black identity, culture, and survival in the South. Born in Fort Valley, and now based in Atlanta, Conteh’s work offers a lens into the lived experiences of Black individuals in seemingly mundane urban environments.“Influence” 2024 mixed media on canvas. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice The exhibit, curated by Courtney Brooks, is a raw reflection of the complex layers of Black life. Conteh’s large-scale pieces delve into personal identity and societal issues, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own place in the world. His portraits, based on photographs he takes of people in his community, capture seemingly ordinary urban environments, but the materials he uses include battery acid, rust, soil, and melted plastic.& For Conteh, this body of work is deeply personal and speaks directly to the experiences of Black Americans. He explains his vision for “Acceptance: Identity & Circumstance” by inviting viewers to think beyond their own immediate surroundings, “I want people to think about where they are, their place—not just in Atlanta, but in...