The debut monograph of Stacey Gillian Abe’s work is created to accompany her first London solo show at Unit London.

Featuring works spanning her career to date, the book explores the key themes from Abe’s work and delves deep into her expressive and symbolic indigo portraits. Shrub-let of Old Ayivu includes insightful written contributions from Flavia Frigeri, art historian, lecturer and the Chanel Curator at the National Portrait Gallery and Serubiri Moses, renowned writer and curator, alongside a conversation between the artist and Catherine McKinley, curator and author of the critically acclaimed Indigo: In Search of the Color that Seduced the World and The Book of Sarahs: A Family in Parts.

Abe’s work reflects her past and her memories, highlighting her personal experiences and her relationships to her community. Renowned for her indigo skin-tone paintings, the colour has become crucial in reshaping narratives surrounding the black body.

Illustrated by: Stacey Gillian Abe
Commentaries by: Dr Flavia Frigeri, Serubiri Moses, Catherine E. McKinley
Designed by: Billie Temple