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Little-known fact: the Free Library often hosts compelling art exhibitions, like this African art exhibit on display starting May 14. (Photo courtesy Free Library)

Celebrating the rich heritage of three-dimensional art found across West Africa, Materials Transformed: The Art of African Sculpture is the Free Library’s latest comprehensive exhibition, on view May 14 through August 31.

Materials Transformed features more than 100 compelling sculptural objects revealing the extraordinary diversity of traditional and contemporary African sculpture embodied in memorial and shrine figures, architectural elements, masks and gold weights, among other objects, all created from wood, stone, metal, gourds and other materials.

Featured objects include a Nupe door of honor from Nigeria, rare kebe-kebe dance staffs from the Democratic Republic of Congo, royal metal Fon bocio animal figures from Benin, medicine gourds with figurative stoppers from Tanzania and numerous masks from West and Central Africa.

The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

Materials Transformed: The Art of African Sculpture
When: May 14-August 31
Where: Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street
Cost: Free
More info: www.freelibrary.org