Zeitz MOCAA, the largest museum of contemporary art, has announced the appointment of four pioneering women in the contemporary art scene with impressive backgrounds in arts and culture to join its team. The new additions include Lungi Morrison as Institutional Advancement Director, Namhla Moyeni as Institutional Advancement Manager,…
The influence of classical and contemporary African art has played a significant role in shaping modern art as we know it today. The contemporary African art scene is home to a group of artists who continue to showcase Africa’s position as the motherland of modern and contemporary art.…
The past decade has witnessed an influx of African artists who have diversified their mediums and styles, incorporating a wide range of materials and painting techniques, including those from western culture. Africa is known for its rich and diverse culture, and it’s no surprise that talented and renowned…
Mental health is a critical focus in modern Africa, and institutions are turning to art therapy as a tool to improve individuals’ well-being. Art therapy, designed by therapists and art professionals, helps patients understand, interpret, and cope with past traumatic events. It engages the mind through physical stimulation,…
Developed in 1998 to promote Ghanian contemporary visual arts, the Accra Visual Arts week returns after a 20-year pause this year with exhibitions slated for five venues from April 4 to April 11, 2023. Patrick Tagoe Tuckson, “Untitled,’ Flip flops on suede. Showing in a solo at AUCC,…
Jean Bosco Bakunzi was born and raised in Kigali, Rwanda in 1985. Growing up he enjoyed sketching with pincers and pastel colors. He was then introduced to a group of local artist painters where he discovered a great interest in acrylic and oil paints. He sees painting as…
Kwame Brathwaite Image courtesy of Cory Rice Kwame Brathwaite, a photographer and activist whose works inspired the “Black is Beautiful” movement of the late 1950s and early 1960s, has died at the age of 85. Brathwaite, during his career which spanned seven decades, documented the everyday life of…
Julie Mehretu is an Ethiopian-American visual artist. Born in 1970 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to an Ethiopian university professor and an American school teacher, she is known for multi-layered paintings of abstracted landscapes on a large scale, depicting the effects of urban socio political changes. In 1977 her family…
Peju Layiwola is an artist, professor of art history and head of the Department of Creative Arts at the University of Lagos. Her artistic creations are rooted in diverse themes, including the looting and recovery of cultural treasures from the Kingdom of Benin in Nigeria, as well as…
It’s fascinating to witness the work of the current generation of African filmmakers as they revive storytelling and filmmaking by creating new ways for African audiences to see themselves in film. Filmmakers are using fictional and documentary techniques to investigate critical issues, from the theme of identity, politics…
Sarah Waiswa was born in Uganda in 1980. In 1999 she moved to the United States where she obtained a B.A in Sociology from Berea College followed by a MSc in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University. She worked in a corporate environment for a number…
The East African art scene has seen significant growth and development in recent years, with a growing number of galleries, exhibitions, and events showcasing the region’s talented artists. The people behind these exhibitions are curators, whose roles are instrumental in bringing the work of East African artists to…
Stacey Gillian Abe was born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1990. In 2014, she graduated from Kyambogo University, Kampala, with a BA in Art and Industrial Design. Abe’s practice includes photography, sculpture, installation, performance and painting. Her concepts highlight the strengths and fragility of the female mind and aim…
Shabu Mwangi was born in Lungalunga at Makuru slum in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985. He grew up with his mother and eleven siblings in difficult circumstances. He had to collect plastic and metal from the rubbish dump to help support his family from an early age. He was…
During a time where Uganda waits on President Museveni’s decision on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023, Nigerian envoy, Ismail Ayobami Alatise, addresses Artists in eastern Africa. He made the remarks during the unveiling ceremony of the judges for the forthcoming “My Impression” visual art competition that will happen on…
Dylema Amadi is a Nigerian visual artist known for her unique use of materials and her captivating portraits. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and currently resides in London, UK. Recently, Dylema took the art world by storm with a most unique series. Taking a detour from traditional…
The Museum of Modern Art New York apologizes after asking leading British Ghanaian artist, Heather Agyepong to leave Black Power Naps installation following another visitor’s complaint. The Museum of Modern Art’s main entrance. Courtesy of The Art Newspaper/ajay_suresh The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has…
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Exterior). Courtesy of The Met The Metropolitan Museum of Art is known to collect, study, conserve, and present significant works of art across time and cultures in order to connect all people to creativity, knowledge, ideas, and one another. Since its…
The intersection of technology and African art is a fascinating one, and it’s no surprise that African institutions are adapting to tech trends in 2023 to enhance the contemporary African art ecosystem. From virtual reality tours to innovative digital platforms, African institutions are embracing technology to give visitors…