Contemporary African Art in and out of Africa
1. Formal Category
2. Informal Category: (Workshops; a new internationalism –souvenir art)
3. African Art on the Global Stage
4. Diaspora Dimension: Ambivalence and Parody
Formal Category:
Evolution of Modern Art in Africa
1922Aina Onabolu (1882-1963)
Kenneth D. Murray (1902-1972) —British Colonial Officer, 1927
Ben Enwonwu
Harlem Renaissance (Alain Locke);
Negritude, assimilation ( Leopold Sedar Senghor, Aime Cesaire)
Pan Africanism
Aina Onabolu,BarristerOil on canvas1920s
Ben Enwonwu,Agbogho Mmuo,Oil on canvas,1978
Student of Kenneth Murray Encouraged to reflect visible experiencesfrom their African environment; Negritude and Pan Africanism
Ben EnwonwuSir Adetokunbo AdemolaThe Alake of Egbaland,Bronze
Ben Enwonwu,Statue of Queen Elizabeth 11Bronze
The Zaria School
Bruce OnobrakpeyaHave You Heard,Oil on canvas,1959Influenced by the Adire indigo dyed fabric design patterns of the Yoruba
The Zaria Art society, 1958“Zaria Rebels”
Natural synthesis—combining the best ofNigerian values with those from outside
Adire, (Indigo dyed cloth) Yoruba, Nigeria, indigo and cotton 20th century
Bruce Onobrakpeya,UntitledOil on canvas1961
Demas Nwoko,Figure,Terracotta,1967-8Influenced by the stylistic elements of Nok
Demas NwokoAdam and EveTerracotta,1967/68
Informal Category:
Catholic Workshops&
Experimental Workshopsa) Oye Ekiti—Catholic Mission—Father Kevin Carroll
(1947-1954)
Lamidi Fakeye, Flight into Egypt, wood, 1956
Integration of Christian subject matter with Yoruba sculpture tradition—Africanization of form
George Bandele,One of the Three Wise MenFrom the Christmas Crib SetWood, beads, pigments1954
The Experimental Workshopsb) Mbari Mbayo—Ibadan/Osogbo—Ulli Beier
1961-1968)
Osogbo Experiments—Mbari Mbayo Workshop
Talented young artists who were still unfettered by European artistic convention
Adire, (Indigo dyed cloth) Yoruba, Nigeria, indigo and cotton 20th century
Georgina Beier, Untitled, oil on board 25 panels, 1985
Georgina Beier, Untitled, linoleum cut print, 1960
Adebisi Akanji,Untitled-scene from A Petrol Station Cement sculpture,Cement n.d
Twin Seven Seven,a.k.a Chief Taiwo Olaniyi,Pen and Ink1967
Phantasmagoric/Dream likeimages steeped in Yoruba folkloric tradition
Jimoh Buraimoh, faces and bird, gouache and beads on board, 1996
Informal Category
Roadside Art and a new Internationalism
Unknown artist, Barber’s Sign—(Salon) shop display, enamel paints on wood
Cheri Samba, Why have I signed a contract?, acrylic on canvas, 1990
Kane Kwei, Mercedes-Benz shaped coffin, enamel paint on wood, 1989
Kane Kwei, Cocoa-pod shaped coffin, enamel paints on wood, 1970
Kane Kwei, Hen-shaped coffin, wood and enamel paint, 1989
On the Global Stage
Man wearing commemorative clothWith likeness of Queen Elizabeth IIGhana, 1960
Vote for Peace,Vote ANC, detail, 1994
Yinka Shonibare, Scramble for Africa, installation 14 chairs, 14 tablesWax prints, 2000
Yinka Shonibaredetail
Yinka Shonibare, Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle, Trafalgar Square, London, U.K., 2010
Yinka Shonibare, the wanderer—commemorating the last ship to import enslaved Africans into the Americas, 1858Mixed media, 2007
Chris Ofili,The Holy Virgin Mary,Acrylic, resin, oil paper collage,Elephant dung on linen,1996
Imagery of Mary the mother of Jesus; asexualized imagery of Aunt Jemima-the Black Mammy stereotype, domestic/wet nurse
Ritual of Imori (Knowing/discerningDestiny), Ijebu-Yoruba, Nigeria Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Sonponna, photograph
Rotimi Fani-Kayode,Soponna,Black and white silver gelatinWith hand tinting,1987
Rotimi Fani-Kayode,Golden Phallus,Color Photograph,1989
El Anatsui,Chambers of Memory,Terracotta,1979
Kente, hand-woven fabric, Ghana, 20th. Cent, aesthetics of polyrhythms
El AnatsuiPatches of History IIIWood1993
Influences of striped woven fabricand scarification patterns—Akan and Igbo traditions
El AnatsuiKente Rhapsody, Wood and pigmentDate unknown
El Anatsui, Untitled, aluminum and copper wire, 2009
Diaspora Dimension: Ambivalence and Parody
Renee Cox, Yo Mama Last Supper, C-Print Photograph,
A French print “La Belle Hottentot” after the display and objectification of Sarah Bartman (Saartje Bartman)
Renee Cox,Saartie Bartman(Hottentot Venus)Photography, 1995
Sokari Douglas-CampNaked GeledeStainless steel,1995
Edouard Manet, "The Luncheon on the Grass“, oil on canvas, 1862/1863
Renee Cox, Cousins at pussy pond, 2001
Edouard Manet, Olympia, oil on canvas, 1863
Renee Cox, Olympia’s Boyz, Digital c-print, 2001
Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, oil on canvas, 1907
Faith Ringgold, Picasso’s Studio, Acrylic on canvas And tie-dye fabric, 1991
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