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African Painting

In the past, African art has often taken the form of statues, bas-reliefs and objects, contemporary African painting is very diverse. Closely linked to symbolism, African painting stands out because of the frequent use of very pronounced lines and perfect symmetry. Body painting is also common in African countries, but the continent is also home to wooden objects from the 10th century and bronze statues dating from the 14th century.

Today, many African works of art belong to private collectors. The importance of African artwork, which is often anonymous, is underestimated in France. However, knowledge was passed down in a very similar way to the European process: through workshops. Although workshops were perhaps more often based on familial ties in Africa than in Europe. The name of the studio is often more well-known than that of the artist. Although works of art aren't necessarily signed, artists can leave their own distinct mark on them.

Many historical works were created within the context of the ritual and religion and often the objects created would have been seen as sacred. Their primary purpose was not commercial nor aesthetic.

Contemporary art has evolved considerably in Africa, especially in countries such as South Africa, where many a number of cultural institutions and galleries have sprung up. Contemporary African paintings, often tinged with humour, can act as summaries for the problems present on the African continent, from colonisation to the social and economic instability of certain countries, but they can also depict Africa as exceptional, colourful and joyful where each country has a strong and distinct culture.

Europe has gradually become more familiar with African art, showcasing contemporary artists such as the South African William Kentridge, Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, Julie Mehretu, Chéri Samba, Paul du Toit, Omar Ba, Wangechi Mutu, Meleko Mokgosi, Lynette Yiadom Boakye, Kemang Wa and others.

On Artsper, discover artworks by Marlene Dumas, Kim Bennani, Soly Cissé, Barthélémy Toguo, Chéri Chérin and Azeddine. 

Collector’s Guide: Collecting Paintings

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Angu Walters, The Kora Player I, Painting

Angu Walters

The Kora Player I, 2013
35.4 x 29.5 x 0 inch
Painting

$1,400

Mohamed Aksouh, Sans titre, Painting

Mohamed Aksouh

Sans titre, 1992
28.3 x 31.5 inch
Painting

$6,775

Sebastien Arts, Cosmopolitain, Painting

Sebastien Arts

Cosmopolitain, 2020
55.1 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$1,819

Safa Elouijdani, Roman Mosaic: Mythology 1, Painting

Safa Elouijdani

Roman Mosaic: Mythology 1, 2017
31.1 x 25.6 x 1.4 inch
Painting

$1,305

Pascal Konan, le blakiste 1, Painting

Pascal Konan

le blakiste 1, 2020
27.6 x 19.7 inch
Painting

$1,004

Youssef El Khorib (Youcha), Le Doute, Painting

Youssef El Khorib (Youcha)

Le Doute, 2018
55.1 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$690

Harouna Ouedraogo, Hear from one ear, Painting

Harouna Ouedraogo

Hear from one ear, 2020
31.9 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$1,631

Said Ouarzaz, Amal, Painting

Said Ouarzaz

Amal, 2009
70.9 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$6,775

Henri Abraham Univers, Miss Poko, Painting

Henri Abraham Univers

Miss Poko, 2017
11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$1,631

William Bakaïmo, Love is perfect, Painting

William Bakaïmo

Love is perfect, 2019
51.2 x 55.1 x 2 inch
Painting

$4,893

Mohamed Lekleti, Psyché, Painting

Mohamed Lekleti

Psyché, 2010
39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$7,527

Désiré Sama, Composition abstraite, Painting

Désiré Sama

Composition abstraite, 2001
23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$626

Leslie Amine, Sans titre, Painting

Leslie Amine

Sans titre, 2018
47.2 x 63 x 2 inch
Painting

$8,656

Babahoum, Le Ksar, Painting

Babahoum

Le Ksar, 2016
20.9 x 30.3 x 0 inch
Painting

$1,192

Hyacinthe Ouattara, Multiplicité, Painting

Hyacinthe Ouattara

Multiplicité, 2020
59.1 x 40.6 inch
Painting

$9,033

Frances Goodman, The Drama, Painting

Frances Goodman

The Drama, 2018
39 x 52 inch
Painting

$24,000

Yagor, Water Drink, Painting

Yagor

Water Drink, 2019
39.4 x 39.4 inch
Painting

$2,258

Najoua El Hitmi, Le Scribe, Painting

Najoua El Hitmi

Le Scribe, 2018
34.3 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$1,631

Ghizlane Agzenaï, Totem Hadar, Painting

Ghizlane Agzenaï

Totem Hadar, 2021
39.4 x 32.3 x 1.6 inch
Painting

$8,155

Enfant Précoce / Francis Essoua Kalu, Air Colbane, Painting

Enfant Précoce / Francis Essoua Kalu

Air Colbane, 2017
82.7 x 102.4 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$16,309

Azeddine Essaouira, Anonyme, le musicien, Painting

Azeddine Essaouira

Anonyme, le musicien, 1999
7.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inch
Painting

$286

Robert Mychre, Composition abstraite, Painting

Robert Mychre

Composition abstraite, 1963
25.8 x 32.1 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$3,290

Yaser Safi, Untitled 2, Painting

Yaser Safi

Untitled 2, 2010
63 x 82.7 inch
Painting

$13,000

Zandile Ntobela, Exaltation, Painting

Zandile Ntobela

Exaltation, 2019
18.9 x 32.3 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$12,546

Ntombephi Ntobela, The President, Painting

Ntombephi Ntobela

The President, 2019
44.1 x 68.9 x 1.6 inch
Painting

25,000 - $ 50,000

Zondile Zondo, Emangele, Painting

Zondile Zondo

Emangele, 2019
26.4 x 17.3 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$11,291

Betty Acquah, Exquisite, Painting

Betty Acquah

Exquisite, 2016
36 x 72 x 2 inch
Painting

$7,200

Olga Indigo, Princesse Ahovi, Painting

Olga Indigo

Princesse Ahovi, 2016
41.7 x 25.2 x 0.4 inch
Painting

$1,004

Liby Lougué, En balade, Painting

Liby Lougué

En balade, 2017
39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$3,199

Leonard Ngure, Untitled, Painting

Leonard Ngure

Untitled, 2019
22.4 x 37.8 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$2,735

Kofi Agorsor, Devine Reflection, Painting

Kofi Agorsor

Devine Reflection, 2011
72 x 59.8 inch
Painting

$7,800

Bruce Clarke, Collisions Historiques, Painting

Bruce Clarke

Collisions Historiques, 2019
19.7 x 25.6 x 0.4 inch
Painting

$3,011

Kokouvi Adoku, Les énergies positives, Painting

Kokouvi Adoku

Les énergies positives, 2020
39.4 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch
Painting

$960 $1,066

Larbi Cherkaoui, Sans titre, Painting

Larbi Cherkaoui

Sans titre, 2015
42.5 x 76.8 x 1 inch
Painting

$15,055

Samir Salemi, Paul Smith, Painting

Samir Salemi

Paul Smith, 2016
98.4 x 118.1 x 3.1 inch
Painting

$26,346

Omar Logang, The morning light, Painting

Omar Logang

The morning light, 2007
44.9 x 57.5 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$10,037

Ange Kumbi, Au voleur, Painting

Ange Kumbi

Au voleur, 1996
22.4 x 28.3 x 0.4 inch
Painting

$2,258

Najib Ghissassi, Seuille, Painting

Najib Ghissassi

Seuille, 2018
18.9 x 16.1 x 1.6 inch
Painting

$1,631

Kim Bennani, Sans titre, Painting

Kim Bennani

Sans titre, 2016
19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
Painting

$2,509

Roger Djiguemdé, La Potière de Samba, Painting

Roger Djiguemdé

La Potière de Samba, 2008
21.7 x 18.1 x 1.6 inch
Painting

$1,004

Ablade Glover, Expectation, Painting

Ablade Glover

Expectation, 2008
40 x 48 x 2 inch
Painting

$10,900

Mosoti Kepha, Woman in Green, Painting

Mosoti Kepha

Woman in Green, 2008
10.6 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$113

Khalid Abdel Rahman, Cityscape 1, Painting

Khalid Abdel Rahman

Cityscape 1, 2020
13.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inch
Painting

$627

Wilfried Balima, Sans titre, Painting

Wilfried Balima

Sans titre, 2017
11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$439

Fawzi Brachemi, A contre-sens, Painting

Fawzi Brachemi

A contre-sens, 2016
45.7 x 31.9 inch
Painting

$10,388

Ronex Ahimbisibwe, Untitled, Painting

Ronex Ahimbisibwe

Untitled, 2014
31.5 x 47.2 x 1 inch
Painting

$2,697

Ingénieur Vancy, Voiture Ngulu (Voiture Phacochère), Painting

Ingénieur Vancy

Voiture Ngulu (Voiture Phacochère), 2020
44.1 x 59.4 inch
Painting

$2,384

Fred Abuga, Anchores Boats, Painting

Fred Abuga

Anchores Boats, 2019
35.4 x 21.9 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$2,227

Salah Malek, Les effets du silence 2, Painting

Salah Malek

Les effets du silence 2, 2018
39.4 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch
Painting

$4,391

Gatien Mabounga, Hybrides 2, Painting

Gatien Mabounga

Hybrides 2, 2015
55.1 x 39.4 inch
Painting

$2,509

Ibrahim Ballo, Emotion Tissée Attente, Painting

Ibrahim Ballo

Emotion Tissée Attente, 2018
44.1 x 35 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$2,509

Nazir Ismail, Untitled 83, Painting

Nazir Ismail

Untitled 83, 2016
19.7 x 15.7 inch
Painting

$5,000

Shallman Quashie, Ancestral protection, Painting

Shallman Quashie

Ancestral protection, 2021
36.2 x 48 x 2 inch
Painting

$5,395

Toof, Cow Man, Painting

Toof

Cow Man, 2017
39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$3,701

Adéle du Plessis, Wobbly Cup Small, Painting

Adéle du Plessis

Wobbly Cup Small, 2020
9.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch
Painting

$188

Noureddine Chater, Sans titre, Painting

Noureddine Chater

Sans titre, 2015
59.1 x 59.1 x 1 inch
Painting

$10,037

Nyornuwofia Agorsor, Collective consciousness, Painting

Nyornuwofia Agorsor

Collective consciousness, 2016
39 x 39 x 2 inch
Painting

$2,200

Adama Keita, The visible and the invisible I beyond limits, Painting

Adama Keita

The visible and the invisible I beyond limits, 2020
31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$2,597

Hossein Khoshraftar, Motherland Serie N°916, Painting

Hossein Khoshraftar

Motherland Serie N°916, 2018
35.4 x 70.9 x 1.6 inch
Painting

$2,509

Our recommendations Yassine Belferd, Mizan, Painting

Yassine Belferd

Mizan, 2016
19.3 x 39.4 inch
Painting

$1,004

Shoof, 20061 Fond noir, Painting

Shoof

20061 Fond noir, 2020
63.8 x 44.9 x 0.8 inch
Painting

$10,037

Kura Shomali, The Bills, Painting

Kura Shomali

The Bills, 2018
58.3 x 37 inch
Painting

$7,276

Gavin Rain, Grace, Painting

Gavin Rain

Grace, 2017
47.2 x 47.2 x 3.1 inch
Painting

$21,955

Sitou, Nelson Mandela, Painting

Sitou

Nelson Mandela, 2019
15.7 x 11.7 inch
Painting

$502

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