Spotlight On African Contemporary Artists As Art Cologne 2023 Opens

Spotlight On African Contemporary Artists As Art Cologne 2023 Opens

• Gallerist Pearl Lam is spotlighting African art by exhibiting African contemporary artists at the oldest art fair in the world, which opens today.

Cologne, November 16th, 2023

#Pearl #Lam is known for her role in bringing #Chinese contemporary artists into the international market as well as for supporting international artists in China. Her patronage and endorsement is closely followed by art collectors.

At Art Cologne 2023, Pearl Lam Galleries is showcasing a diverse range of artistic practices and perspectives which offer a compelling exploration of contemporary African art.

Pearl Lam says: “We need to challenge preconceived notions and redefine the narrative surrounding African art. I hope to foster more cross-cultural dialogue and to shed more light on the vibrant artistic landscape of the #African continent.”

Pearl Lam also discusses the representation of black artists in a recent episode of The Pearl Lam #Podcast.

Featured Artists

• Alimi Adewale

  • Through the mediums of painting, and sculpture, Alimi Adewale brings to the forefront the diverse narratives, vibrant traditions, and rich heritage of Africa. The series Masked Legacies brings African masks to life on Kilim rugs, resonating with their historical and ritual significance. These masks have long fascinated artists and scholars, influencing the development of Cubism and Fauvism in Western art through their bold forms and abstract qualities.

• Samson Akinnire

  • Samson Akinnire’s art offers a subliminal glimpse of the unseen through the interplay of waste and wealth. His work draws viewers into the process of creation, combining dimensionality, space, and beauty to evoke a timeless sense of constraint and boundlessness. Akinnire’s prolific artistic production spans abstraction, realism, portraiture, post-impressionism, and installation, employing techniques such as modelling, casting, painting, sewing, and more.

• Duke Asidere

  • Influenced by his upbringing with a sailor father and a dedicated trader mother, Duke Asidere draws inspiration from the time he spent alone with his mother, which serves as a focal point for his art. The artist’s passion for art was nurtured from a young age through drawing superheroes at home and in school. Notably, his work often centres around the female form, symbolising strength and resilience. His paintings embody his personal struggles and represent a source of power and pure energy in his life.

• Isshaq Ismail

  • Describing his portraits as “infantile semi-abstraction”, Isshaq Ismail’s artistic practice aims to reduce the human figure to its most basic characteristics. Thick patches of bold colours dominate the surface of the canvas. Land of Hope questions the audience’s expectation of figurative depiction and instead creates the impression of a parallel world peopled with grotesque creatures both similar to human beings but different in appearance.

• Rufus Ogundele

  • Rufus Ogundele was a prominent artist whose creative journey spanned the 19th century, leaving a lasting impact on the world of art. He initially ventured into the arts as a musician and actor in Duro Ladipo’s renowned travelling theatre company, where he performed alongside Twins77 and Muraina Oyelami. Ogundele’s untimely passing at the age of fifty was deeply mourned by the art world, as his vibrant works celebrated the rich tapestry of Yoruba life and culture, infused with the dynamic energies of the human experience.

• Babajide Olatunji

  • The series Tribal Marks is a collection of hyperrealist portraits born from the vibrant imagination of Babajide Olatunji. Within these paintings, Olatunji skilfully combines his meticulous ethnographic research into the ancient tradition of facial scarification, prevalent in various Nigerian tribes, with his profound understanding and imaginative vision. Through his artistic prowess, he breathes life into the identities of the individuals adorned with these marks, resulting in captivating storytelling and an aura of mystique.

• Anya Paintsil

  • Anya Paintsil is a London-based textile artist of Welsh and Ghanaian descent. Combining traditional hand rug making techniques with Afro hair styling methods, Paintsil’s practice is largely autobiographical, taking inspiration from her childhood, family stories, and Welsh and Ghanaian mythologies, while exploring identity, gendered labour and seeking to promote artistic practices historically devalued due to their associations with femininity and other marginalised groups.

• Deborah Segun

  • Deborah Segun’s paintings can be described as a fusion of Cubism and abstraction. She embraces a playful and purist approach, prioritising form over intricate details, and explores diverse artistic mediums. Her works primarily revolve around figurative representations, with a particular emphasis on portraiture. The inspiration for her creations derives from her personal experiences as a woman, as well as her observations of the spaces she occupies.

About Pearl Lam

Pearl Lam is the founder of Pearl Lam Galleries. She is a gallerist, collector and patron with many years of experience at the forefront of reimagining China’s cultural place in the world. Her commitment to art is rooted in her longstanding mission to develop and promote cultural exchange. Pearl Lam is also an expert speaker who also shares her insights alongside guests in The Pearl Lam Podcast.

Learn more about Pearl Lam …