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, Insight 4, Oluwafemi Afolabi

Oluwafemi Afolabi

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

CHF 1,723

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

CHF 656

Painting, Nadia, Miils

Miils

Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 484

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 1,741

Photography, Kashi, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

CHF 1,274

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 2,625

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 1,805

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 861

Painting, Connected, Chika Idu

Chika Idu

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

CHF 7,382

Sculpture, Unity, Nnamdi Okonkwo

Nnamdi Okonkwo

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

CHF 8,564

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, Guhwa, Ezekiel Messou

Ezekiel Messou

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

CHF 580

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 13,543

Painting, Market models, Kofi Agorsor

Kofi Agorsor

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

CHF 5,332

Painting, Foli, Deng Chol

Deng Chol

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

CHF 1,427

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

CHF 3,096

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 3,628

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 3,337

Painting, Landscape, Charles Nkomo

Charles Nkomo

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

CHF 2,789

Fine Art Drawings, Scenario II, Georges Fikry Ibrahim

Georges Fikry Ibrahim

Fine Art Drawings - 47.5 x 63 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.7 x 24.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,709

Print, Muddy Waters, Mezzo

Mezzo

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

CHF 193

Painting, Untitled, Pierre Segoh

Pierre Segoh

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

CHF 1,258

Painting, Reunion, Sam Ovraiti

Sam Ovraiti

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

CHF 1,161

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 2,370

Painting, Mother's pride, Yomi Momoh

Yomi Momoh

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

CHF 1,451

Photography, My Details, Kofi Agorsor

Kofi Agorsor

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

CHF 5,906

Painting, Larmes, Miils

Miils

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

CHF 3,386