African Aesthetic

How can you define the African aesthetic? A continent made up of 54 countries — each with their own culture, their own traditions and their own social structures – no doubt produces stylistically varied African artists. 

The literary movement Négritude was led by the writers Aimé Césaire, Léon Damas and Léopold Sédar Senghor and played a huge part in the development of modern African art. Founded in 1937 by a group of African student artists in Paris, a city with a tolerant and diverse art scene, the movement grew globally. The movement aimed to critique colonialism and cultivate an appreciation for Black and African culture, the effects of which no doubt is imperative to the contemporary African art scene.

According to Léopold Sédar Senghor, in order for African art to progress it had to reflect the modernity of the present by responding to contemporary social issues and artistic styles, while celebrating traditional culture. By also drawing from other Modernist movements such as the Harlem Renaissance and Surrealism, the African aesthetic of visual art focuses on these principles and is today conveyed by the likes of Angu Walters who focuses on everyday life in African villages. Whilst Faie Davis seeks to use her lens to capture an appreciation for those who retain tradition.

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Painting, Sans titre, Rafiy Okefolahan

Rafiy Okefolahan

Painting - 64 x 49 x 3 cm Painting - 25.2 x 19.3 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,742

Painting, Glow 1, Mayowa Esan

Mayowa Esan

Painting - 119.9 x 100.1 x 2.5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 39.4 x 1 inch

CHF 2,966

Photography, Kashi, John Kenny

John Kenny

Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm Photography - 26.4 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,287

Painting, Unknown, Kaynan Kayphas

Kaynan Kayphas

Painting - 76.2 x 63.5 x 2.5 cm Painting - 30 x 25 x 1 inch

CHF 774

Photography, Untitled, Ebuka Michael

Ebuka Michael

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 779

Painting, While I Hope, Damilola Ilori

Damilola Ilori

Painting - 134.6 x 83.8 x 2.5 cm Painting - 53 x 33 x 1 inch

CHF 2,712

Photography, Ahmed Legs, Hassan Hajjaj

Hassan Hajjaj

Photography - 95 x 71 x 3.5 cm Photography - 37.4 x 28 x 1.4 inch

CHF 11,809

Painting, Untitled, Leonard Ngure

Leonard Ngure

Painting - 57 x 96 x 2 cm Painting - 22.4 x 37.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,033

Fine Art Drawings, Guhwa, Ezekiel Messou

Ezekiel Messou

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 inch

CHF 581

Painting, World cleaner, Alida Ymélé

Alida Ymélé

Painting - 76 x 66 x 3 cm Painting - 29.9 x 26 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,420

Painting, Mama Africa, Elisha Ongere

Elisha Ongere

Painting - 58 x 43 x 2 cm Painting - 22.8 x 16.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 552

Print, Chicago Blues, Mezzo

Mezzo

Print - 70 x 50 x 0.7 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.3 inch

CHF 194

Photography, Kind of Blue, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 105 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography - 41.33 x 27.55 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,627

Painting, Connected, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

Painting - 137.2 x 119.4 x 5.1 cm Painting - 54 x 47 x 2 inch

CHF 7,628

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Pierre Segoh

Pierre Segoh

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 inch

CHF 774

Painting, Soldat Inconnu, Steve Bandoma

Steve Bandoma

Painting - 137 x 97 x 1.5 cm Painting - 53.9 x 38.2 x 0.6 inch

CHF 4,743

Print, Relinquished, Roger Ballen

Roger Ballen

Print - 90 x 90 x 0.2 cm Print - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

CHF 13,552

Painting, Sans titre, Mohamed Diabagate

Mohamed Diabagate

Painting - 120 x 120 x 4 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch

CHF 3,630

Painting, Untitled, Pierre Segoh

Pierre Segoh

Painting - 65 x 50 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 inch

CHF 1,065

Sculpture, Unity, Nnamdi Okonkwo

Nnamdi Okonkwo

Sculpture - 30.5 x 48.3 x 68.6 cm Sculpture - 12 x 19 x 27 inch

CHF 8,848

Painting, Le départ, Ange Kumbi

Ange Kumbi

Painting - 62 x 71 x 1 cm Painting - 24.4 x 28 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,742

Painting, Foli, Deng Chol

Deng Chol

Painting - 90 x 65 x 2.5 cm Painting - 35.4 x 25.6 x 1 inch

CHF 1,428

Painting, Lion in red, James Mutisya

James Mutisya

Painting - 50.5 x 118.5 x 2 cm Painting - 19.9 x 46.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 871

Fine Art Drawings, Quiet Time, Damilola Ilori

Damilola Ilori

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9 x 1 inch

CHF 890

Painting, Landscape, Charles Nkomo

Charles Nkomo

Painting - 101.6 x 101.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 inch

CHF 2,882

Painting, Big bird, Eric Tournaire

Eric Tournaire

Painting - 24 x 31.8 x 0.2 cm Painting - 9.4 x 12.5 x 0.1 inch

CHF 465

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Bruce Tchibozo

Bruce Tchibozo

Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 31 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 12.2 inch

CHF 774

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Gatien Mabounga

Gatien Mabounga

Fine Art Drawings - 57 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22.4 x 19.7 inch

CHF 1,210

Painting, Which one, Saad Lukwago

Saad Lukwago

Painting - 139 x 109 x 2 cm Painting - 54.7 x 42.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,340

Photography, Sillon Vert, Kathia Mohl

Kathia Mohl

Photography - 125 x 83 x 3 cm Photography - 49.2 x 32.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,372

Painting, Journeys 4, Yomi Momoh

Yomi Momoh

Painting - 29.2 x 39.4 cm Painting - 11.5 x 15.5 inch

CHF 581