African Photo Magazine Issue #8

T
Culture Trip
By Lilian Diarra
http://contributors.theculturetrip.com/contributors/lilian-diarra
The
he contemporary art scene in Africa is dynamic and diverse, teeming with extraordinary talented and
passionate artists using their work to reflect the continent’s cultural diversity, natural beauty, and long
history. Although formal exhibition spaces remain limited in many African countries, there are a growing
number of exceptional independent art galleries across the Continent promoting and exhibiting the
best of African contemporary art. We explore ten of these galleries.
Banana Hill Art Gallery,
Nairobi, Kenya
A true art gem situated on the outskirts of Nairobi, the Banana Hill Art
Gallery exhibits a superb selection of beautiful African contemporary
artwork and has showcased over 70 artists and sculptors principally
from Kenya and East Africa. The gallery displays a variety of stunning
and vibrant paintings and a few sculptures illustrating a range of
subjects, uniquely captured through each artist’s personal interpretation
reflecting day-to-day life in cities and rural areas, abstract art, cultural
traditions, and Kenya’s rich wildlife and landscapes. Founded by Shine
Tani, a brilliant artist himself, the gallery’s vision is to bring exposure to
African artists and promote art appreciation in the region.
Banana Hill Art Gallery, Banana Raini Road, Nairobi, Kenya,
+254 711 756 911
Afriart Gallery,
Kampala, Uganda
A leading contemporary art gallery in Uganda, the Afriart Gallery exhibits
an exquisite selection of Ugandan and African art. Representing both
well-established and rising artists, the gallery’s interior is filled with
beautiful paintings and sculptures and has featured well-known local
artists such as Edison Mugalu and Paulo Akiiki. Regularly exhibiting the
artwork of different artists, Afriart has become a focal point amongst
the artistic community in Kampala’s budding art scene. The gallery also
provides art consulting services and runs a craft shop selling art books,
ceramics, statues, traditional fabrics, locally designed clothes and
recycled glassware. Housed in a conspicuous red double-storey building,
the Afriart Gallery is hard to miss.
Afriart Gallery, Block 56, Kenneth Dale Drive, Kampala, Uganda,
+256 04143 75455
Zoma Contemporary Art Centre,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Created by one of Ethiopia’s most original and active artists, Elias Sime,
the Zoma Contemporary Art Centre (ZCAC) seeks to promote multidisciplinary
contemporary art, facilitate international exchange between
artists, and inculcate a culture of environmentally conscious art projects
in Ethiopia. Listed by the New York Times as one of the top places to
visit in 2014, the ZCAC is situated in an extraordinary house made from
mud, straw, and stone. Designed and sculpted by Sime, it represents the
center’s philosophy of driving environmental sustainability through art.
Regular exhibitions are held in the center’s showroom, and there is an
open studio for visiting artists. In collaboration with partner institutions,
the ZCAC also runs artist-in-residence and education programs, and
has a second location in a small historic village called Harla.
ZCAC, P.O.Box 6050, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, +251 91 124 9374
Goodman Gallery,
Johannesburg & Cape Town, South Africa
The Goodman Gallery is at the forefront of contemporary art in South
Africa, showcasing prominent artists and up-and-coming creative talents
from South Africa, the rest of the African continent, and international
artists who portray the African context through their artwork. With an
ethos of developing artistic talent and cultural consciousness, the gallery
focuses on artwork reflecting South Africa’s socio-political issues. Since
its inception in 1966, the gallery has stood fast by its principles and
encouraged all artists to showcase their work despite the stringent race
laws during the apartheid era. Today the gallery represents about 40
South African and African artists including William Kentridge, conceptual
artist Kendell Geers, and photographer David Goldblatt.
Goodman Gallery, 163 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood, Johannesburg,
South Africa, +27 11 788 1113
Omenka Gallery,
Lagos, Nigeria
A leading contemporary art gallery in Nigeria, Omenka Gallery showcases
the work of emerging and acclaimed Nigerian and international artists,
and houses one of the most comprehensive collections of the renowned
Nigerian painter and sculptor Ben Enwounwu. Hosting solo exhibitions,
group shows, and large, themed exhibitions, Omenka also participates
in a number of international art fairs, runs an active publications program,
and facilitates workshops to encourage critical development and
dialogue on contemporary art in the country and the continent at large.
Omenka regularly collaborates with international artists such as South
African photographer Cedric Nunn, Angolan artist Manuela Sambo, and
London-born Ransome Stanley, to create a culture of experimentation
and creative exchange between local and international artists.
Omenka Gallery, 24 Modupe Alakija Crescent, Lagos, Nigeria,
+234 1 818 45 53331
First Floor Gallery,
Harare, Zimbabwe
The First Floor Gallery Harare is the first independent contemporary gallery
run by emerging artists in Zimbabwe. Founded in 2009, the gallery is
situated in Harare’s busy inner city center. Showcasing the artwork of rising
and promising contemporary Zimbabwean artists, the gallery supports
their professional development by growing their exposure across local
and international audiences, facilitating art workshops and classes, and
serving as an interactive experimental space. The First Floor Gallery hosts
a number of interesting exhibitions throughout the year featuring local
artists such as Moffat Takadiwa, Wycliffe Mundopa, and Mavis Tauzeni.
Over the past few years, it has quickly become an important venue for fine
arts, film, poetry, and music events.
First Floor Gallery, Mercury House, 24 George Silundika Avenue, Harare,
Zimbabwe, +263 4 251 502
Eureka Galerie, Abidjan,
Ivory Coast
Situated in the Ivory Coast’s tropical bustling capital city, the Eureka
Galerie is an outstanding gallery devoted to discovering, sharing and
promoting appreciation of African contemporary art in Ivory Coast and
the surrounding region. From paintings, wooden and bronze sculptures,
to antique masks, traditional fabrics and textiles, the gallery spotlights
a delightful collection of art pieces in its warm, earth-toned interior. The
Eureka gallery has displayed the artwork of groundbreaking African
artists such as the Ghanaian painters Gabriel Eklou and Samkobee,
Ivorian artists Salif Diabagaté and Djédjé Mel, as well as a few
international artists such as French painter Jean Claude Heinen.
Eureka Galerie, Rue Marconi, Zone 4C, Abidjan, Ivory Coast,
+225 21 35 08 08
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