Cameroonian beaded lady.

What Lies Beneath the Beads

CT Scans of Cameroonian Beaded Fertility Goddesses

March 26–June 9, 2024

Forsyth Galleries | Memorial Student Center, MSC 2428

This exhibition looks to engage patrons in a short history of art in the Cameroonian culture, while also looking at the symbolism of the female form across all ancient civilizations. With a twist of science, we’ll take an in-depth look, utilizing computed tomography (CT) scans, to discover how our Cameroonian beaded Fertility Goddesses were constructed and gain a better understanding of their conservation needs. Come by and see What Lies Beneath the Beads…

Inside the Exhibition

Blue beaded Cameroonian fertility goddess on a table with supports.
Forsyth gallery view of two Cameroonian fertility goddesses on display.
Black beaded Cameroonian fertility goddess on a table with supports.
Printout of CT scan findings for one of the goddesses.
Photos of people in Cameroon from the early 20th century.