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, Eden, Akinboye Akinola Peter

Akinboye Akinola Peter

Painting - 119.9 x 99.8 x 2.5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 39.3 x 1 inch

$2,800

Painting, Mindset, Oluwafemi Afolabi

Oluwafemi Afolabi

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

$2,600

Painting, In love, Oluwafemi Afolabi

Oluwafemi Afolabi

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

$2,600

Painting, In the Village, Angu Walters

Angu Walters

Painting - 115 x 120 x 1 cm Painting - 45.3 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch

$4,500

Painting, Prayer V, Angu Walters

Angu Walters

Painting - 106 x 106 x 1 cm Painting - 41.7 x 41.7 x 0.4 inch

$3,500

Painting, The Drummer, Angu Walters

Angu Walters

Painting - 58 x 53 x 0.1 cm Painting - 22.8 x 20.9 x 0 inch

$3,200

Painting, Cleaners, Alida Ymélé

Alida Ymélé

Painting - 130 x 115 x 4 cm Painting - 51.2 x 45.3 x 1.6 inch

$5,162

Painting, Solace, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

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

$3,190

Painting, Await, Oluwafemi Akanmu

Oluwafemi Akanmu

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

$3,200

Photography, Farthest East, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, The age of joy, John Kenny

John Kenny

Photography - 90 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 35.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$3,504

Photography, Nawoi, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,332

Photography, Lekutano, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,332

Photography, Himba Child II, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, Litiriyan, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$2,173

Photography, Glimpses, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, The San Man, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$2,733

Photography, Lopayok, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$2,236

Photography, Pitali, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$2,236

Photography, Naiio, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, Ikulme, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, The Fairground, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, Amuria, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$2,236

Photography, Otjitando, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,332

Photography, Lakuru, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,332

Photography, Nambuele, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,332

Painting, To Whom 2, Oyeleye Feranmi

Oyeleye Feranmi

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

$1,550

Photography, Camo 45 II, Thandiwe Muriu

Thandiwe Muriu

Photography - 90 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$10,804

Painting, Brothers, Ademola Ajayi

Ademola Ajayi

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

$2,350

Photography, Beauty Queen, Thandiwe Muriu

Thandiwe Muriu

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

$12,005

Photography, Unity, Thandiwe Muriu

Thandiwe Muriu

Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$18,007

Photography, Nganamya, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, Merayun, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, Ltailson, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, Kakuwsa, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, Arbore, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Photography, Samburu adornment, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$1,114

Painting, Joyline 2, Josue M Pierre

Josue M Pierre

Painting - 89.4 x 79.5 x 2.5 cm Painting - 35.2 x 31.3 x 1 inch

$2,000

Painting, On the way, Alida Ymélé

Alida Ymélé

Painting - 115 x 130 x 2 cm Painting - 45.3 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

$5,162

Painting, Red Kite, Eniafe Gbenga

Eniafe Gbenga

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

$2,000

Photography, Samburu shepherd, John Kenny

John Kenny

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

$3,504

Photography, Ancho, John Kenny

John Kenny

Photography - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$3,504

Photography, Materia XV, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 74.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$2,200

Photography, Materia XIV, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 74.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$2,200

Photography, Materia XIII, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 74.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$2,200

Photography, Materia XII, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 74.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$2,200

Photography, Materia XI, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 74.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$2,200

Photography, Materia X, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 74.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$2,200

Photography, Materia IX, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 74.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$2,200

Photography, Materia VIII, Mikael Kenta

Mikael Kenta

Photography - 74.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$2,200