@smithsonian

Inspired by hand-built clay coil pots of Kenya and Nigeria, the sensuous forms of Magdalene Odundo's vases are subtly patterned with a firing technique developed in San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico. This one is on display in "Duro Olowu Selects" at our @CooperHewitt. The exhibition explores how patterns express ideas, preserve heritage, and grab our attention. Nigerian-British designer Duro Olowu said, "Patterns are somewhat of a hidden dialogue, a means of understanding how cultural shifts occur across time and place. They open a window to how knowledge and aesthetics are shared across the globe. When we look at pattern, we don't just see stripes, polka dots, or other geometrical layering, we see each other."