Emmanuel Akolo, Reckon, 2022 Acrylic on canvas 36 × 36 × 1.5 in Unique work Includes a Certificate of Authenticity Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) I painted Reckon to examine the sobering weight of responsibility often thrust upon the young. The composition features two children—one carrying the other—set against a vibrant, acidic green background that heightens the psychological tension of the scene. The central figure meets your gaze with a look of profound, aged maturity, signaling a quiet reckoning with a world that demands strength far beyond her years. This work explores the intersection of innocence and the early, heavy realization of communal duty. By focusing on the physical connection and the protective grip of the elder child, I aim to celebrate the instinctive resilience found in youth. Reckon is an affirmation of those who must grow up too soon, honoring the quiet fortitude and the "structural" emotional support that children often provide for one another in challenging circumstances.