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.