Since we started this project it has been difficult for us to find a definition for what Contemporary African Art is and we quickly discovered that we are not the only ones with this challenge.

Contemporary African Art has been gaining prominence and relevance nowadays. From auctions with values never reached before to the numerous art fairs and galleries that exhibit African art.

But after all, how can we define Contemporary African Art? What really is Contemporary African Art?

Inspired by traditional African artistic practices, Contemporary African Art represents traditional African art transformed by globalisation. The blending of traditional and contemporary elements remains one of the main characteristics of this artistic genre.

Artists who grew up in the 1970s developed a very different expression from their predecessors because this was the time of optimism and liberation, the period when many African nations declared independence from their colonial rulers. Contemporary African art depicts this exciting period.

Therefore, we can define Contemporary African Art, as art by contemporary African artists who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s and who experienced a period of substantial change and upheaval. Based on these histories and looking at life in a post-colonial era, these artists dealt with a range of issues - such as national identity, economic disparities, and public health - in a wide range of styles and mediums.

Contemporary African Art is too extensive and complex to fit into a single post on our blog. If you want to know more about African art and works by African artists, join us.

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