Sandra Poulson, a 30-year-old Angolan artist, has opened her first museum exhibition at MoMA PS1 in New York, titled "Este quarto parece uma República!" ("This bedroom looks like a Republic!"). The show features sculptures that explore how everyday objects carry social and political meaning, including a work critiquing the influence of mega-churches in Angola. Poulson, who splits her time between Luanda, London, and Amsterdam, drew inspiration from her childhood, local furniture practices in Luanda, and colonial-era wood exploitation. The works were initially produced for Condo London and commissioned by Jahmek Contemporary Art.
The exhibition matters because it marks a significant milestone for Poulson, a rising artist nominated for the Norval Sovereign African Art Prize, and brings Angolan perspectives to a major international institution. By weaving personal memory with broader histories of colonialism, religion, and material culture, Poulson’s work offers a nuanced critique of power structures embedded in the everyday. The show also highlights the role of smaller galleries like Jahmek Contemporary Art in fostering global careers, and underscores MoMA PS1's commitment to showcasing emerging voices from the Global South.