The Holy Virgin Mary

"The Holy Virgin Mary" is a provocative mixed media painting by Chris Ofili from 1996 that combines collage techniques and figurative imagery with unconventional materials like elephant dung. The work belongs to the Neo-expressionism movement, characterized by its emotional intensity and bold style. It gained significant attention when included in the Sensation exhibition, which sparked controversy, notably with then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani calling it "sick." In 1998, Ofili became the first Black artist to win the Turner Prize. The painting was sold for £2.9 million in 2015 and later gifted to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 2018.