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.

Read more
Photography, Himba Beauty, Faie Davis

Faie Davis

Photography - 85.8 x 76.8 x 0.25 cm Photography - 33.8 x 30.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,500

Photography, Baragoi, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$3,566

Painting, Stay With Me, Eniafe Gbenga

Eniafe Gbenga

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

$4,000

Painting, Arike, Alabi Azeez

Alabi Azeez

Painting - 121.9 x 121.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 48 x 48 x 1 inch

$3,250

Sculpture, Malkia (Queen), Mosoti Kepha

Mosoti Kepha

Sculpture - 49 x 30 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 11.8 x 1 inch

$2,301

Photography, Camo 50, Thandiwe Muriu

Thandiwe Muriu

Photography - 150 x 100 x 1 cm Photography - 59.1 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

$18,261

Photography, Camo 44, Thandiwe Muriu

Thandiwe Muriu

Photography - 90 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$9,739

Photography, Camo 46, Thandiwe Muriu

Thandiwe Muriu

Photography - 90 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$10,956

Painting, Omidan, Oluwafemi Afolabi

Oluwafemi Afolabi

Painting - 121.9 x 121.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 48 x 48 x 1 inch

$3,200

Sculpture, Damsel, Nnamdi Okonkwo

Nnamdi Okonkwo

Sculpture - 25.4 x 30.5 x 25.4 cm Sculpture - 10 x 12 x 10 inch

$5,400

Painting, By Heart, Oyeleye Feranmi

Oyeleye Feranmi

Painting - 121.9 x 121.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 48 x 48 x 1 inch

$5,000

Painting, Exhale II, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

Painting - 87.6 x 69.9 x 7.6 cm Painting - 34.5 x 27.5 x 3 inch

$3,900

Photography, The himba, Faie Davis

Faie Davis

Photography - 85.8 x 76.8 x 0.25 cm Photography - 33.8 x 30.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,500

Painting, Pride, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

Painting - 121.9 x 91.4 x 10.2 cm Painting - 48 x 36 x 4 inch

$8,800

Painting, Mother's pride, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

Painting - 149.9 x 119.4 x 7.6 cm Painting - 59 x 47 x 3 inch

$13,976

Painting, Identity, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

Painting - 121.9 x 91.4 x 10.2 cm Painting - 48 x 36 x 4 inch

$6,800

Photography, Anibal Portrait, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 120 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.24 x 35.43 x 0.1 inch

$3,500

Photography, Gonzalo Portrait, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 120 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.24 x 35.43 x 0.1 inch

$3,500

Photography, Jesus 2, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 120 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.24 x 35.43 x 0.1 inch

$3,500

Photography, Jesus Portrait, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 120 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.24 x 35.43 x 0.1 inch

$3,500

Photography, Pedro Portrait, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 120 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.24 x 35.43 x 0.1 inch

$3,500

Photography, Ron Portrait, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 120 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.24 x 35.43 x 0.1 inch

$3,500

Photography, Safari, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

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

$3,100

Photography, Why Not, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

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

$3,100

Photography, Mr. Donut, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

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

$3,100

Photography, Marbella, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

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

$3,100

Photography, Yello, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

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

$3,100

Sculpture, Tranquility, Nnamdi Okonkwo

Nnamdi Okonkwo

Sculpture - 30.5 x 43.2 x 33 cm Sculpture - 12 x 17 x 13 inch

$7,200

Print, Muddy Waters, Mezzo

Mezzo

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

$243

Painting, Exhale, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

Painting - 87.6 x 69.9 x 7.6 cm Painting - 34.5 x 27.5 x 3 inch

$3,900

Photography, Coke, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

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

$3,100

Painting, Father's pride, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

Painting - 149.9 x 119.4 x 7.6 cm Painting - 59 x 47 x 3 inch

$13,976

Painting, Girl with cap, Elisha Ongere

Elisha Ongere

Painting - 59.5 x 18.5 x 1.5 cm Painting - 23.4 x 7.3 x 0.6 inch

$237

Painting, Lydol, Alida Ymélé

Alida Ymélé

Painting - 90 x 90 x 3 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

$2,435

Painting, Le musicien, Omar Logang

Omar Logang

Painting - 55 x 46 x 3 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 1.2 inch

$1,217

Painting, Mama's Love, Paul Akiiki

Paul Akiiki

Painting - 90 x 45 x 0.8 cm Painting - 35.4 x 17.7 x 0.3 inch

$2,500

7/10