After flicking through her mother’s book on tropical diseases, Wangechi Mutu began finding infection and its life force “visually interesting.” She took the idea into her practice, focusing on physical imperfection and the female form. Born in Kenya in 1972, Mutu studied art in New York City, where she has lived since her late 20s. Her work evolved from collage to painting, and then she moved to drawing, sculpture, and film. Mutu creates hybrid narratives that feel folkloric. “Art allows you to imbue the truth with a sort of magic,” she has said, “so it can infiltrate the psyches of more people, including those who don’t believe the same things as you.” Her work leaves one awestruck by its regal beauty, yet unsettled by its vicious power. In this exhibition curated by Cloé Perrone, Mutu’s sculptures are on view alongside artifacts from the Galleria Borghese collection. —Elena Clavarino