African Art

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, Afro black 2, Joshua Oyeleye

Joshua Oyeleye

Painting . 75.7 x 75.7 x 3.8 cm Painting . 29.8 x 29.8 x 1.5 inch

$1,671

Painting, The Root, Kaynan Kayphas

Kaynan Kayphas

Painting . 101.6 x 91.4 x 6.4 cm Painting . 40 x 36 x 2.5 inch

$2,209

Painting, Prayer IV, Angu Walters

Angu Walters

Painting . 69 x 50 cm Painting . 27.2 x 19.7 inch

$1,940

Painting, Virtous IV, Joshua Oyeleye

Joshua Oyeleye

Painting . 90.9 x 60.5 x 3.8 cm Painting . 35.8 x 23.8 x 1.5 inch

$1,671

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

$1,132

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

$1,779

Painting, Sans titre, Rafiy Okefolahan

Rafiy Okefolahan

Painting . 150 x 150 x 2 cm Painting . 59.1 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

$6,526

Painting, The Plot, Paul Akiiki

Paul Akiiki

Painting . 80 x 90 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$2,695

Painting, Home, Emmanuel Ojebola

Emmanuel Ojebola

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

$4,851

Painting, Night Out, Emmanuel Ojebola

Emmanuel Ojebola

Painting . 72 x 72 x 4 cm Painting . 28.3 x 28.3 x 1.6 inch

$3,382

Painting, Sans titre, Rafiy Okefolahan

Rafiy Okefolahan

Painting . 150 x 150 x 2 cm Painting . 59.1 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

$6,526

Painting, Untitled, Leonard Ngure

Leonard Ngure

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

$2,492

Painting, The Prevailer, Joshua Salami

Joshua Salami

Painting . 121.92 x 91.44 x 2.5 cm Painting . 48 x 36 x 1 inch

$3,202

Painting, The Drummer, Angu Walters

Angu Walters

Painting . 58 x 53 cm Painting . 22.8 x 20.9 inch

$5,389

Painting, Foli, Deng Chol

Deng Chol

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

$1,750

Painting, Immortelle, Modou Guèye

Modou Guèye

Painting . 80 x 65 x 4 cm Painting . 31.5 x 25.6 x 1.6 inch

$2,225

Painting, Which one, Saad Lukwago

Saad Lukwago

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

$4,094

Painting, Sunflowers, Jude Kasagga

Jude Kasagga

Painting . 119 x 80 x 2 cm Painting . 46.9 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$3,263

Painting, Picnic 2, Joshua Oyeleye

Joshua Oyeleye

Painting . 91.4 x 61 x 6.4 cm Painting . 36 x 24 x 2.5 inch

$1,671