At this year’s Affordable Art Fair, the Warnes Contemporary booth will present a dynamic dialogue between the works of Mel Reese and Mayowa Nwadike, two compelling voices in contemporary art.

Reese, a Brooklyn-based observational painter, uses formalism to create compositions where lines, shapes, and textures echo symbolic formalism, balancing abstraction and the familiar. Her work complements that of Nwadike, a self-taught Nigerian artist based in Manhattan, whose mixed media pieces combine realism with abstraction to explore African stories and symbolism. While stylistically distinct, both artists use symbolism to delve into identity, memory, and cultural resonance. Reese’s work reflects universal structures and processes, while Nwadike connects tradition with contemporary expression.

Together, their works create a rich visual and thematic conversation, inviting viewers to explore the intersections of personal and cultural storytelling.