I've decided to save up all my souvenir money, and just buy a single piece of contemporary art in every African country I travel to. I've been so inspired by my Kenya Arts Diary, that I've spent hours delighting in the art on the AfricanColours web site. AfricanColours is a wonderful contemporary art resource based out of Nairobi, and managed by the talented sculptor Maggie Otieno. The site is filled with contemporary arts news from around the continent, as well as information about current exhibitions, artist profiles, and more. I dare you to click on the list of artist portfolios and not want to buy something.
Contemporary art in Africa is woefully underfunded. Stopping at an art gallery, meeting resident artists and exploring their vibrant works, would really be a highlight of any trip to Africa. While craft tours are becoming more popular, and painting/sketching safaris have been on the agenda for a while, many contemporary artists are being showcased in small galleries and Goethe Institutes in relative obscurity. I've been busy putting a list of Art Galleries in Africa together. So if you happen to be in Nairobi, Marrakech or Harare anytime soon, do pop into a gallery, and show your support.
More: African Contemporary Art Galleries l South Africa's Top Art Galleries l African Festivals and Events
Image - Oil Well By Collin Sekajugo, Rwanda. Medium: Plastic Stitched with steel wire -- AfricanColours
Thanks for encouraging your readers to appreciate African contemporary art. I am exited to share that we also have a great new online resource for art-lovers in East Africa. START – A Journal of Arts and Culture is a Kampala-based online journal covering Visuals Arts in the region. We publish regular editions filled with special analysis, artwork reviews, artist interviews and other stories on the contemporary art scene in Kampala and beyond. Check out our events page and read some of the monthly new articles at startjournal.org.
Hi.Nyawanda here.An artist living in Kenya and working at Nairobi…..Kuona Trust.I am so excited with your noble cause of buying art pieces from Africa.I wish that everybody could think like you then we artists would rightfully earn what we toil for everyday.In case you happen to be in in Kenya Pls passby and youll be amazed at how much talent there is…..and is going down the drain.You can check my paintings on my facebook.Or better still ,come and buy.