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, Hope 1, Joshua Oyeleye

Joshua Oyeleye

Painting - 59.7 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting - 23.5 x 16 x 1.5 inch

£622

Painting, Larmes, Miils

Miils

Painting - 130 x 97 x 4 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 1.6 inch

£3,164

Photography, Kashi, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

£1,150

Photography, Untitled, Ebuka Michael

Ebuka Michael

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

£728

Painting, Sanza Player, Angu Walters

Angu Walters

Painting - 100 x 80 x 0.1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0 inch

£1,709

Painting, Maya, Josue M Pierre

Josue M Pierre

Painting - 95 x 71.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 37.4 x 28.3 x 1 inch

£1,709

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

£2,486

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

£816

Painting, Connected, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

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

£6,993

Sculpture, Unity, Nnamdi Okonkwo

Nnamdi Okonkwo

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

£8,111

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

£814 £732

Painting, Moving Forward 1, Paul Akiiki

Paul Akiiki

Painting - 84 x 21 x 0.8 cm Painting - 33.1 x 8.3 x 0.3 inch

£777 £622

Print, Relinquished, Roger Ballen

Roger Ballen

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

£12,655

Painting, Market models, Kofi Agorsor

Kofi Agorsor

Painting - 101.6 x 101.6 x 10.2 cm Painting - 40 x 40 x 4 inch

£5,050

Painting, Lover’s garden, Jude Kasagga

Jude Kasagga

Painting - 81.5 x 93.5 x 2 cm Painting - 32.1 x 36.8 x 0.8 inch

£2,170 £1,953

Painting, Foli, Deng Chol

Deng Chol

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

£1,333

Fine Art Drawings, Guhwa, Ezekiel Messou

Ezekiel Messou

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

£542

Painting, Which one, Saad Lukwago

Saad Lukwago

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

£3,119

Painting, Chapeau bas, Steve Bandoma

Steve Bandoma

Painting - 98 x 73 x 1.5 cm Painting - 38.6 x 28.7 x 0.6 inch

£2,893

Painting, Landscape, Charles Nkomo

Charles Nkomo

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

£2,642

Print, Muddy Waters, Mezzo

Mezzo

Print - 70 x 50 x 0.5 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

£181

Painting, Untitled, Pierre Segoh

Pierre Segoh

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

£1,175

Painting, Reunion, Sam Ovraiti

Sam Ovraiti

Painting - 35.6 x 45.7 cm Painting - 14 x 18 inch

£1,085

Painting, Mother's pride, Yomi Momoh

Yomi Momoh

Painting - 95.9 x 86.4 cm Painting - 37.75 x 34 inch

£1,356

Photography, Sillon Vert, Kathia Mohl

Kathia Mohl

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

£2,215

Photography, My Details, Kofi Agorsor

Kofi Agorsor

Photography - 152.4 x 121.9 x 10.2 cm Photography - 60 x 48 x 4 inch

£5,594

Painting, La brise d'Eden, Miils

Miils

Painting - 100 x 70 x 5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 2 inch

£4,068

Painting, Longing 2, Alawaye Tope

Alawaye Tope

Painting - 91.4 x 91.4 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36 x 36 x 1 inch

£1,546