Category: Artist Interviews & Studio Visits
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No Entry: The Artist Whose Visa Was Denied for a Project About Borders in Basel
He was meant to be here at Africa Basel, showcasing his project Art World Passport—an artistic critique of borders and movement. Richard Mudariki, a Zimbabwean artist based in South Africa and founder of artHarare, was invited to Basel to present his work. Yet ironically, his visa was denied. This denial highlights a harsh reality: in…
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Modou Dieng Yacine’s Poetics of Memory and Identity – Interview
During his visit to Senegal in Winter 2025, DakArtNews met with Modou Dieng Yacine, a Chicago-based artist born in Saint-Louis, Senegal, in 1970. A graduate of Dakar’s École des Beaux-Arts and the San Francisco Art Institute, he blends painting, photography, and collage, using materials like denim and burlap. His art has been exhibited at numerous…
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Interview with Ko Sy – A Journey from Fashion to Painting
Ko Sy, whose real name is Colette Diallo, is a self-taught Senegalese artist whose journey into painting began unexpectedly during the Covid-19 pandemic. With a background in fashion design, she spent two decades in the fashion industry in France before settling in Senegal. Her artistic path is marked by spontaneity, freedom, and a deep connection…
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Ousmane Ndiaye Dago: A Pictorial and Sculptural Photography
Ousmane Ndiaye Dago is a Senegalese artist whose unique journey blends various forms of artistic expression, ranging from graphic design to photography and painting. Through his art, Dago explores the invisible and abstract dimensions of the human body. In this article, we invite you to discover the world of Ousmane Dago, an artist whose ever-evolving…
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A Visit to Seyni Awa Camara in Her Home in Bignona, Casamance
DakartNews recently had the privilege of visiting renowned Senegalese artist Seyni Awa Camara at her home in Maguilene, a neighborhood in Bignona, Casamance, in the south of Senegal. Seyni warmly welcomes us, surrounded by her stunning creations. When asked which of her works she prefers, she pauses, reflects, and then points with a smile to…
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Baye Ndiaga Diouf: Art That Heals and Inspires
In his studio located in Nguekhokh, around 70kms south of Dakar, Baye Ndiaga Diouf shares the essence of his art, which draws on natural materials like Touba coffee, cola, and charcoal. His works reflect his spiritual journey within Mouridism and explore themes of human connection, social justice, and spirituality. Ndiaga’s paintings offer a unique form…
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The Soul of Revolution -Khalifa Mané: Shaping Art with Rage
Khalifa Mané was born in 1998 in Casamance, southern Senegal. He began his artistic journey in the studio of French painter Le Guenne, where he spent several years learning the basics of painting. This early training, combined with his desire to break away from the norm, has shaped him into a unique and outspoken artist.…
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Rosalie Boka: A Young Ivorian Artist Advocating for Nature
DakArtNews met in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with Rosalie Boka, a 27-year-old Ivorian artist and a recent graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts in Abidjan. Passionate about nature and deeply concerned with environmental issues, she uses painting as a medium to raise awareness about the preservation of natural heritage and to highlight ecological challenges. Alongside her…
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Zeus: Turning Trash into Art for Social Change
Originally from Saint-Louis, Senegal, Zeus, whose real name is Boye Amadou, is a self-taught artist dedicated to transforming waste into artistic treasures. For over 20 years, he has been giving new life to discarded objects in a practice that is both ecological and socially driven. His studio, L’or dure (a play on words meaning with…
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Petroni 40: A Retrospective of Artistic Collaboration in Dakar
Dakartnews is pleased to meet an artist whose career spans over 40 years in Dakar. If you have visited the city, you have likely seen Petroni’s works adorning the streets, as he has significantly contributed to its decoration by renovating heritage objects. He has lived in Almadies, where his studio is located, since 1983, when…
Bridging Africa and The World Through Contemporary Art 