African Art

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, Emancipation, Joshua Salami

Joshua Salami

Painting . 121.9 x 91.4 x 2.5 cm Painting . 48 x 36 x 1 inch

CHF 1,978

Painting, To whom, Oyeleye Feranmi

Oyeleye Feranmi

Painting . 60.4 x 45.5 x 3 cm Painting . 23.8 x 17.9 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,478

Painting, Afro black 2, Joshua Oyeleye

Joshua Oyeleye

Painting . 75.7 x 75.7 x 3.8 cm Painting . 29.8 x 29.8 x 1.5 inch

CHF 1,400

Painting, The Root, Kaynan Kayphas

Kaynan Kayphas

Painting . 101.6 x 91.4 x 6.4 cm Painting . 40 x 36 x 2.5 inch

CHF 1,852

Painting, Unmask, Oyeleye Feranmi

Oyeleye Feranmi

Painting . 76.2 x 76.2 x 2.5 cm Painting . 30 x 30 x 1 inch

CHF 1,400

Photography, Camo 2.0 4452, Thandiwe Muriu

Thandiwe Muriu

Photography . 90 x 60 x 0.2 cm Photography . 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 10,847

Painting, Prayer IV, Angu Walters

Angu Walters

Painting . 69 x 50 cm Painting . 27.2 x 19.7 inch

CHF 1,626

Photography, Mynga, John Kenny

John Kenny

Photography . 90 x 60 x 2 cm Photography . 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,771

Painting, Home, Emmanuel Ojebola

Emmanuel Ojebola

Painting . 91.4 x 121.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 36 x 48 x 1 inch

CHF 4,065

Painting, Insight 4, Oluwafemi Afolabi

Oluwafemi Afolabi

Painting . 61 x 45.7 x 2.5 cm Painting . 24 x 18 x 1 inch

CHF 1,896

Painting, In Between, Afolayan Emmanuel

Afolayan Emmanuel

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

CHF 2,393

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

CHF 1,987

Painting, Virtous IV, Joshua Oyeleye

Joshua Oyeleye

Painting . 90.9 x 60.5 x 3.8 cm Painting . 35.8 x 23.8 x 1.5 inch

CHF 1,400

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 3,698

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 949

Photography, Winds of Change, Thandiwe Muriu

Thandiwe Muriu

Photography . 90 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography . 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

CHF 9,862

Painting, Sans titre, Rafiy Okefolahan

Rafiy Okefolahan

Painting . 150 x 150 x 2 cm Painting . 59.1 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 5,423

Painting, The Plot, Paul Akiiki

Paul Akiiki

Painting . 80 x 90 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,258

Painting, Genuine Society, Kofi Agorsor

Kofi Agorsor

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

CHF 5,871