MEET
Evan Cláver
Evandro Cláver Nobre da Costa, known artistically as Evan Cláver, is a prominent Angolan visual artist born in Luanda in 1987. A self-taught creative voice, Evan began drawing in childhood, and though he later studied film and cinematography, it was in the visual arts that he found his truest means of expression.
Cláver’s practice stands out in the landscape of African contemporary art for its bold embrace of urban expressionism, satirical composition, and doodle-based narratives. He uses stencils, lines, and layered imagery to build chaotic yet controlled depictions of city life, dissecting the contradictions and absurdities of modern society. At the heart of his art is a critique of media manipulation, collective passivity, and the seductive power of images in political discourse.
Through both humour and disruption, Evan Cláver constructs a theatre of symbols, where each figure, object or gesture points toward broader issues of truth, perception, and control. His works act as visual protests, refusing aesthetic passivity and instead demanding reflection, friction, and social commentary.
Cláver has exhibited in major national and international exhibitions, gaining recognition as one of the most politically engaged artists of his generation in Angola. Notable appearances include the 1st Luanda Triennial (2004) with the Sindika Dokolo Foundation, the AMREF Health Africa ArtBall in New York (2017), and installations at the United Nations Headquarters in Brazil (2017).
Recent exhibitions include Folk Tales at Camões Cultural Centre (2021), Boa Noite às Coisas Aqui em Baixo at Tamar Golan Gallery (2021), and Fuckin’ Globo (2016, 2020), among others. His works are part of numerous private collections and institutional interiors, such as G80, Infinitus, and Thomson Art House.
Evan Cláver continues to push the boundaries between art and activism, blending satire, graffiti culture, and African identity to challenge narratives and reclaim agency in public discourse. His voice remains urgent, rebellious, and essential in the evolving dialogue around contemporary African visual language.
