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, 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

$3,500

Photography, Kashi, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,582

Painting, Unknown, Kaynan Kayphas

Kaynan Kayphas

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

$952

Photography, Untitled, Ebuka Michael

Ebuka Michael

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

$958

Photography, Ahmed Legs, Hassan Hajjaj

Hassan Hajjaj

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

$14,515

Painting, Untitled, Leonard Ngure

Leonard Ngure

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

$2,498

Fine Art Drawings, Guhwa, Ezekiel Messou

Ezekiel Messou

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

$714

Painting, Mama Africa, Elisha Ongere

Elisha Ongere

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

$678

Print, Chicago Blues, Mezzo

Mezzo

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

$238

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

$3,100

Painting, Connected, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

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

$9,000

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

$952

Print, Relinquished, Roger Ballen

Roger Ballen

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

$16,656

Painting, Untitled, Pierre Segoh

Pierre Segoh

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

$1,309

Sculpture, Unity, Nnamdi Okonkwo

Nnamdi Okonkwo

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

$10,440

Painting, Le départ, Ange Kumbi

Ange Kumbi

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

$2,142

Painting, Foli, Deng Chol

Deng Chol

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

$1,755

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

$1,071

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

$1,050

Painting, Landscape, Charles Nkomo

Charles Nkomo

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

$3,400

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

$571

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

$952

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

$1,487

Painting, Which one, Saad Lukwago

Saad Lukwago

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

$4,105

Painting, Journeys 4, Yomi Momoh

Yomi Momoh

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

$714

Photography, Sillon Vert, Kathia Mohl

Kathia Mohl

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

$2,915