Double Exposure - Mandela Print

This striking mixed media portrait showcases Andre Woolery's masterful technique of creating portraits through meticulous pushpin work. The piece features a Nelson Mandela portrait rendered entirely in silver and white pushpins against a sunset on Robben island.

What makes this piece particularly compelling is the juxtaposition of techniques—the precise, almost digital-looking dot pattern of the portrait contrasts with the smooth, painterly quality of the sunset backdrop. 

This statement piece would make a striking addition to contemporary interiors, offering both visual impact and artistic depth.

The Story Behind The Art

Long Walk to Freedom had hit theaters.  Nelson Mandela had just passed. The world was reflecting on his life, his legacy, and what he stood for. And in the middle of all that, I was deep in the creative flow of my Jamaican studio, working on the first piece in my Double Exposure collection.

This series blends oil-painted backgrounds with pushpin foregrounds—merging texture, technique, and storytelling in a way that feels layered and alive. I didn’t start with a blank canvas, though. I actually used an old painting that had completely flopped. I covered it in white paint—starting fresh, yet keeping its past beneath the surface.

I began this piece on January 22nd and finished it on February 28th—just in time to share it at the end of Black History Month.

It was more than just a tribute. It was a meditation on resilience, reinvention, and the power of legacy. Mandela’s story reminded me that even when something feels like a failure, it can be transformed into something meaningful.

This piece carries that spirit—layered with memory, purpose, and pride.