Ficre Ghebreyesus’ Red Room pulses with what the artist called “the polyrhythms of the African diaspora.” This composition unites distinct art historical traditions from across the continent and reflects his exile from—and longing for—his homeland. In his youth, Ghebreyesus fought for Eritrean independence before fleeing the country as a teenager. His path, which took him through Sudan, Italy, and Germany, ultimately led him to the United States and to art school. Ghebreyesus drew inspiration and connection from the historic African artworks he saw in museums, and they appear frequently in his paintings. Here, a Yorùbá staff to the god Sàngó and a Benin Kingdom equestrian figure are set against a background of luscious red, a color rich in meaning for several African states and societies.