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, Couple II, Angu Walters

Angu Walters

Painting - 34 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 13.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$500

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

$1,801

Painting, Unraveling, Michael Adetula

Michael Adetula

Painting - 91.4 x 61 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36 x 24 x 1 inch

$1,850

Painting, Feminism, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

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

$2,650

Painting, Meditate, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

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

$2,500

Painting, Life Tune, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

Painting - 88.9 x 81.3 x 2.5 cm Painting - 35 x 32 x 1 inch

$2,100

Painting, Within, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

Painting - 83.8 x 67.3 x 2.5 cm Painting - 33 x 26.5 x 1 inch

$2,100

Painting, Vague, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

Painting - 68.6 x 61 x 2.5 cm Painting - 27 x 24 x 1 inch

$2,300

Painting, Fear Not, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

Painting - 91.4 x 61 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36 x 24 x 1 inch

$1,800 $1,260

Painting, Focus, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

Painting - 68.6 x 61 x 2.5 cm Painting - 27 x 24 x 1 inch

$1,520 $1,064

Painting, Me 2, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

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

$2,400 $1,680

Painting, Me 3, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

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

$2,400 $1,680

Painting, Woven Beauty, Adebayo Taiwo

Adebayo Taiwo

Painting - 127 x 96.5 x 2.5 cm Painting - 50 x 38 x 1 inch

$2,950

Painting, Self Admiral, Ishmael Armah

Ishmael Armah

Painting - 170 x 130 x 1 cm Painting - 66.9 x 51.2 x 0.4 inch

$20,408

Painting, Side By Side, Adebayo Taiwo

Adebayo Taiwo

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

$2,650

Painting, Solace, Adebayo Taiwo

Adebayo Taiwo

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

$2,650

Painting, Calm Within, Adebayo Taiwo

Adebayo Taiwo

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

$2,750

Photography, The Odd One, Ebuka Michael

Ebuka Michael

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

$966

Painting, Star girl 2, Joshua Salami

Joshua Salami

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

$2,190

Painting, Come see me, Joshua Salami

Joshua Salami

Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 inch

$1,200

Painting, Memories, Joshua Salami

Joshua Salami

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

$2,000

Painting, Black Damsel, Joshua Salami

Joshua Salami

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

$1,500