The Top 30 African Painters You Need To Know Today

Introduction: Contemporary African painters

Today we take on the African continent, scoping its artistic landscape for the best African painters you need to know. The contemporary era seems to run parallel with post-colonialism. The decolonization of the African nations in the post-war era resulted in substantial change and upheaval.[1]

As a result, a highly interesting socio-political climate arose for contemporary African art to prosper. African artists have taken the responsibility to define, write or paint their history and identity. An utmost intriguing symbiosis emerges of African culture, the implementation of native media, symbols, and various issues encompassing economic disparity, shaky sovereignty, an uneasy transition to capitalism, a clash of tradition versus globalization, public health and racial conflicts, including the lingering effects of the collective trauma of the colonial era.

Since the turn of the new millennium, African contemporary art has found its way into the international mainstream of the art world. But what about contemporary painting? As a result, for this article, we are pleased to present you with an extensive and reasoned selection of mid-career and established artists and artworks.

The top 11 consists of the most important – highest ranked[2] – African painters today, including a short biography. As we can only touch briefly on every painter, we have included hyperlinks to monographic publications for further reading. We complete the top 30 with a visual anthology of 19 highly ranked mid-career African painters alphabetically, resulting in the most extensive online resource on the matter.

So, without further ado, let’s discover the best African painters today.

1. William Kentridge

Arguably the most important African artist up to this day, William Kentridge is one of the most important contemporary painters and opens our article in true style. Born in 1955 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the iconic artist continues to work and reside in Johannesburg.

One might argue Kentridge is rather a draughtsman or printmaker than a painter. However, due to the expressive character of his works and the ease with which he switches from surface to surface, it is clear to say the diction between painting versus drawing seems to disappear with the South-African master. With Kentridge, painting becomes a process of recording history. He reconfigures fragments of the past, resulting in a greater understanding of African history but also of himself.[3]

For further reading on William Kentridge, we highly recommend William Kentridge by the Phaidon Contemporary Art Series.

2. Marlene Dumas

Our second painter can also be found in South Africa. This time, we travel to Cape Town, where none other than Marlene Dumas was born in 1953. Dumas currently works and lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, but remains strongly connected to her home in Cape Town.

Dumas is undoubtedly one of the most famous painters today. The female artist depicts sensually painted figures, taking on often thought-provoking subjects. The starting point for almost any painting is found images or images of her immediate environment. Doing so, she evokes first-hand emotions with second-hand images, simultaneously examining what is universal, collective, and personal.[4]

For further reading on Marlene Dumas, we strongly recommend Marlene Dumas: The Image as Burden.

3. Julie Mehretu

Julie Mehretu completes our top three. The Ethiopian-American artist was born in 1970 in Addis Ababa and currently resides and works in New York. Her monumental paintings can be interpreted as abstract landscapes, using various media on various surfaces inspired by architectural plans, photography, city maps, and more.

One encounters calligraphy, graffiti, or street art in her two-dimensional works with an eclectic character. Mehretu aims to examine the history of our urban environment and its socio-political effects. The female artist chooses markers, paint brushes, spray cans, pencils, or screen printing as her weapons of choice for these stunning tableaus.[5]

For further reading on Julie Mehretu, we highly recommend the monograph Julie Mehretu.

4. Michael Armitage

Up next, we have a true virtuoso, Michael Armitage. Born in 1984 in Nairobi, Kenya, Armitage is a contemporary painter living and working between London, the United Kingdom, and his hometown. He is best known for his figuratively rendered oil paintings, painted on a traditional bark cloth from Uganda called Lubugo.

Drawing inspiration from historical events and contemporary media, Michael Armitage combines narratives from both spheres. At the center of his artistic practice, one encounters the visual iconography of East Africa. Doing so, Armitage takes on the harsh reality of East Africa, encompassing political issues, violence, inequality, and extreme disparities in wealth.[6]

For further reading on Michael Armitage, we highly recommend Michael Armitage: Paradise Edict.

5. Wangechi Mutu

We stay briefly in Nairobi, Kenya, where none other than Wangechi Mutu was born in 1972. The African contemporary painter currently lives and works in New York City, the United States of America. Mutu takes on various media, encompassing sculpture, collage, film, installation, and, first and foremost, painting.

The African female artist explores violence and misrepresentations afflicting contemporary women. Her distorted feminine forms take on current issues such as globalization, consumerism, inequality, and the continuous search for a new balance between tradition and contemporary life.[7]

For further reading on Wangechi Mutu, we highly recommend Wangechi Mutu from the Phaidon Contemporary Artists Series.

6. Kendell Geers

We head south once more to Johannesburg, where we encounter Kendell Geers. Born in 1968 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Kendell Geers is a Neo-conceptual artist living and working in Brussels, Belgium. His multidisciplinary practice is marked by language, ready-made, neon, glass, film, chevron tape, or film, resulting in minimalist esthetics with a poetic character.

Painting is essential to his artistic practice, implementing the elements above on a two-dimensional surface. He questions the value of art, often mocking the notion of originality. He takes on racial or religious stereotypes with sharp humor, examining moral codes or political implications.[8]

7. Njideka Akunyili Crosby

Born in Enugu, Nigeria, in 1983, Njideka Akunyili Crosby is a Nigerian-American painter living and working in Los Angeles. Crosby moved to the United States of America in 1999. However, her cultural identity is strongly defined by her country of birth, resulting in a so-called hybrid identity which is a crucial aspect of her painterly oeuvre.

Njideka Akunyili Crosby draws inspiration from art historical, political and personal references. Her figuratively rendered paintings conjure the complexity of our contemporary existence and experience. Interiors, everyday life, and social gatherings are key themes throughout her impressive body of work. However, the artist creates a series of visual interventions by implementing a vibrant effect of patterns and photo collages derived from Nigerian culture, popular culture, or collective memory.[9]

For further reading on Njideka Akunyili Crosby, we highly recommend Njideka Akunyili Crosby: The Beautiful Ones.

8. Wael Shawky

We head north to Alexandria, Egypt, where Wael Shawky was born in 1971 and continues to work and live. Shawky is another Neo-conceptualist who implemented contemporary painting in his multimedia practice.

The starting point for his works is an extensive research period before tackling notions of national, religious, or artistic identity. He frames contemporary culture using the prism of historical culture. Bright colors, magical scenes, and a critical undercurrent mark his painterly oeuvre.[10]

For further reading on Wael Shawky, we strongly recommend Shawky: Crusades and Other Stories.

9. Adel Abdessemed

North Africa has even more Neo-conceptual painters to offer. Born in 1971 in Constantine, Algeria, Adel Abdessemed currently works and resides in Paris, France.

Abdessemed creates deliberate actions – or ‘acts’ – by everyday objects or materials documented by videos, photographs, and more. Afterward, the Algerian-French artist aims to create a reminder of this specific act, resulting in sculptures or paintings.[11]

For further reading on Abel Abdessemed, we highly recommend Abdessemed: Works 1988–2015.

10. Basim Magdy

We return to Egypt, to Assiut, to be more precise, where Basim Magdy was born in 1977. The contemporary artist works between Basel, Switzerland, and Cairo, Egypt. The Egyptian artist works in painting, drawing, sculpture, video, and installation, where he seems to be on a quest for the absurd.

Basim Magdy creates dreamlike paintings combining familiar elements from this world while juxtaposing them with absurd elements out of this world. With bright colors and an almost science-fiction feeling, his painterly oeuvre distinguishes itself strongly with its surreal and aggressive quality.[12]

For further reading on Basim Magdy, we highly recommend Basim Magdy: Would a Firefly Fear the Fire that Burns in Its Heart?.

11. Barthélémy Toguo

We conclude our top 11 with none other than Barthélémy Toguo. Born in 1967 in Mbalmayo, Cameroon, Toguo is a contemporary artist living and working between Bandjoun, Cameroon, and Paris, France.

The Cameroonian artist is occupied with installation, performance, photography, and intriguing watercolor paintings. He explores the flow of people, which is regulated, similarly to we handle merchandise or resources between the West and third-world countries. His painterly practice acts as a diary of travel. Human-like shapes seem to transform into animals or abstract elements.[13]

For further reading on Barthélémy Toguo, we highly recommend Barthélémy Toguo.

12. Jean-Michel Albèrola

13. Ghada Amer

14. Amoako Boafo

15. Aboudia Abdoulaye Diarrassouba

16. Ibrahim El-Salahi

17. Nicholas Hlobo

18. Kudzanai-Violet Hwami

19. Abdoulaye Konaté

20. Rachid Koraïchi

21. Moshekwa Langa

22. Misheck Masamvu

23. Mohammed Melehi

24. Simphiwe Ndzube

25. Odili Donald Odita

26. Chéri Samba

27. Cinga Samson

28. Penny Siopis

29. Beatrice Wanjiku

30. Fahrelnissa Zeid

Notes:

[1] Artsy, Contemporary African Art at https://www.artsy.net/gene/contemporary-african-art consulted 2/02/2022.
[2] Artfacts at https://artfacts.net consulted 2/02/2022.
[3] Julien Delagrange, The Most Famous Painters Today consulted 2/02/2022.
[4] Ibidem note 3.
[5] Julien Delagrange, 17(+6) Female Artists Who Defined the Contemporary Era consulted 2/02/2022.
[6] White Cube, Michael Armitage at https://whitecube.com/artists/artist/michael_armitage consulted 2/02/2022.
[7] Artsy, Wangechi Mutu at https://www.artsy.net/artist/wangechi-mutu consulted 2/02/2022.
[8] Stephen Friedman Gallery, Kendell Geers at https://www.stephenfriedman.com/artists/38-kendell-geers/ consulted 2/02/2022.
[9] Victoria Miro, Njideka Akunyili Crosby at https://www.victoria-miro.com/artists/185-njideka-akunyili-crosby/ consulted 2/02/2022.
[10] Lisson Gallery, Wael Shawky at https://www.lissongallery.com/artists/wael-shawky consulted 2/02/2022.
[11] Artsy, Abel Abdessemed at https://www.artsy.net/artist/adel-abdessemed/ consulted 2/02/2022.
[12] Gypsum Gallery, Basim Magdy at http://gypsumgallery.com/bio-basim-magdy consulted 2/02/2022.
[13] Artsy, Barthélémy Toguo at https://www.artsy.net/artist/barthelemy-toguo/ consulted 2/02/2022.