African gallerists have played an important role in promoting and showcasing African art to the rest of the world by establishing galleries dedicated to exhibiting modern African art. Some of these galleries are named after their founders to recognize their contributions to the art world and the success of the gallery. These galleries are gaining notoriety for their focus on African artists from different countries, regions, or the continent as a whole. They not only serve as a platform for young and established African artists but also as cultural institutions that help to expand and develop the art sector.
Here, we highlight 5 notable galleries named after their founders and their contributions to the art industry.
- Mariane Ibrahim
The Mariane Ibrahim Gallery is named after Somali-French art dealer Mariane Ibrahim-Lenhardt. Run by Ibrahim, the gallery specializes in showing contemporary artists of African heritage. With locations in Paris, Chicago, and Mexico, the gallery represents artists working across different media from underrepresented regions including Africa and the Middle East.
Image courtesy of the gallery
On what inspired her to start Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, in an interview with The Cut, Ibrahim says:
“I’ve always been a visual person. Going to museums and galleries, I would see works that spoke to me in terms of aesthetics, but I was not very connected in terms of representation. At a later age, when I was able to afford art — because that’s another question: of affordability and access and knowledge — I was interested in trying to get works from my contemporaries and artists from the African diaspora, which was connected to my reality and how I navigate this world.”
Image courtesy of Dave Kasnic/Financial Times
With a remarkable list of artists like Zohra Opoku, Peter Uka, Amoako Boafo, Mwangi Hutter, Ian Mwesiga, Ayana V. Jackson, and Ruby Onyinyechi Amanze, the gallery has exhibited at art fairs across the world with acclaimed and award-winning presentations.
- Gallery MOMO
Situated in Johannesburg and named after founders, art dealers and collectors Monna Mokoena and Lee Mokoena, Gallery MOMO represents local and international artists working in photography, sculpture, and painting. MOMO was established to fill the gap in the art market with contemporary African art, locally and internationally.
Some of the artists that have exhibited with them include, Mary Sibande, Dillon Marsh, Robert Pruitt, Kimathi Donkor, Jonathan Freemantle, Andrew Tshabangu, Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo, and Ransome Stanley.
The founders’ mission to expand the budding art market and attract new audiences and collectors through international collaborations and exhibitions has been successful. Gallery MOMO hosts residencies for curators and artists from across the world to encourage international dialogue and collaboration between artists from different parts of the world.
- Jack Bell
Image courtesy of the gallery
To focus on contemporary African art, Jack Bell Gallery was started in London in 2010. Named after collector, Jack Bell, their mission is to exhibit, represent, and champion contemporary artists from around the world, with a special emphasis on artists from Africa and Southern Asia. In 2020, the gallery expanded to Australia, and in 2022, they opened a second location in London.
Jack Bell’s gallery hosts about ten large shows annually. The works of artists on their list have been included in exhibitions in important international museums and galleries such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Saatchi Gallery in London, amongst others. At Jack Bell Gallery, they exhibit a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, and, in particular, photography.
- Wunikan Mukan
Image courtesy of the gallery
Formerly known as Pacers, Wunika Mukan Gallery, is a contemporary art gallery in Lagos, Nigeria. The gallery was renamed after director and curator Wunika Mukan.
The gallery, which opened in 2020, is dedicated to showcasing emerging artists from Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the diaspora. The gallery’s mission is to provide a platform that connects artists to new audiences across the world and a larger art market. With a focus on providing an avenue for local and international exposure, the gallery aims to increase the visibility of every artist that it represents and foster innovation and immersive exchange.
- DADA
Image courtesy of the gallery
DADA Gallery was named after the founder Oyinkansola Dada, a Nigerian-born and London-based gallerist. Their goal is to champion contemporary artists whose practice reflects the times. The gallery is known for introducing and exhibiting works from young and emerging artists from Africa and its diaspora to international audiences. Their exhibitions explore wide-ranging themes such as youth, identity, sexuality, cultural, and socio-economic issues.
On the origin of the name in an interview with Metal Magazine, the founder says:
“DADA is my last name so it only felt natural to use it for my work too. I think it’s cool that the name also has various meanings across different cultures. In Yoruba, the name is used to refer to children born with locs. Dada is also famously the name of a leftist art movement that represented a rejection of conventional ideals. I think the name carries a lot of radical energy which I think feels relevant to the gallery’s mission.”
DADA Gallery presents exhibitions in its physical spaces in London and Lagos while continuing to maintain a strong digital presence with its online exhibitions.
