Leonard Baloyi Leonard Baloyi, is a South African visual artist whose portraits offer a tender yet probing reflection on the emotional and psychological weight of everyday life. Working with oil, acrylic, pastel and charcoal, he crafts expressive figurative works that navigate themes of identity, vulnerability and the quiet erosion of empathy. Influenced by his upbringing in Soweto, Baloyi draws on personal memories, books and music to build scenes that speak to the complexities of human emotion. His figures often exist in moments of stillness or introspection, rendered through brushwork that mirrors the fluctuating states of the inner world. Texture plays a central role in his practice, with layered surfaces revealing the tension between presence and absence. Generational Bond, 2024 Acrylics and Oils on canvas Embracing Vulnerability, 2024 Acrylics and Oils on canvas Hysterical harmony, 2024 Acrylics and Oils on canvas The warmth of human connection IIII Acrylics and oils on canvas Beyond the gaze II, 2024 Acrylic on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Armand Boua Armand Boua, is an Ivorian artist based in Abidjan, whose textured paintings explore themes of social struggle and human resilience. His work focuses on marginalised communities, particularly the street children of Abidjan, shedding light on their lives amidst political and social turmoil. Using layers of acrylic and collage, Boua applies and strips back paint to create haunting, abstract forms that reflect both the fragility and vitality of his subjects. With his raw, expressive technique, Boua captures the tension between beauty and hardship, inviting viewers to confront the realities often overlooked in everyday life. Gnambro, 2019 Acrylic & collage on linen Mon Frangin, 2024 Acrylic & collage on linen Untitled, 2016 Acrylic & collage on linen Les petits Marrakas 2, 2021 Acrylic & collage on linen Cè Djinzin allons à Gagnoa les Frangins, 2024 Acrylic, newspaper paper, ochre, wood powder, and glue on cardboard, Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Abdur Rahman Muhammad Abdur Rahman Muhammad, is a Ghanaian artist from Accra. His oil paintings highlight personal and collective narratives of migration, challenging preconceived notions surrounding cultural identity and belonging. Influenced by everyday encounters, YouTube interviews, and historical contexts, Muhammad’s work explores the tension between decisive action and introspection. His compositions often focus on figures and symbolic objects, most notably the ‘Ghana Must Go’ travel bag, depicted in rich, vibrant palettes that reframe negative associations. By engaging with themes of displacement, hip-hop culture, and youth experiences, Muhammad’s art illuminates the nuanced realities of contemporary Ghanaian life and its global resonance. Genesis, 2023 Oil on canvas Purple Way Tagged Green, 2023 Oil on canvas Crocs Of Gold, 2022 Oil on canvas Green Shimmer, 2023 Oil on canvas In Hands To Hold, 2024 Oil on canvas Infinite Reveries, 2024 Oil on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Discover past exhibitions featuring African and Caribbean contemporary artists. Past Exhibitions Past exhibitions which showcased artwork by artists from African and Caribbean heritage. Modupeola Fadugba: Of Movement, Materials and Methods 22 May – 29 June 2025 Gallery 1957, London More info Learn more Noah Davis 6 February – 11 May 2025 Barbican Art Gallery More info Learn more Mickalene Thomas: All About Love 11 February – 5 May 2025 Hayward Gallery More info Learn more Kwesi Botchway: The Sun Must Come Down Part II 13 March – 3 May 2025 Gallery 1957 More info Learn more Dada Khanyisa: this is for you 26 February – 12 April 2025 Sadie Coles HQ More info Learn more Amoako Boafo: I Do Not Come to You by Chance Thu 10 Apr Gagosian More info Learn more A Conscious Relation: Body/Mind/Movement 6 February – 22 March 2025 Tiwani Contemporary More info Learn more Misheck Masamvu: Mubato (The Handle) 6 February – 15 March 2025 Goodman Gallery More info Learn more Ameh Egwuh: Pink // Blue 30 January – 7 March 2025 Rele London More info Learn more Lauren Halsey: emajendat 11 October 2024 – 23 February 2025 Serpentine South Gallery More info Learn more Zanele Muholi 6 June – 26 January 2025 Tate Modern More info Learn more Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga: Nature Morte 14 November – 25 January 2025 October Gallery More info Learn more Deborah Segun: A Moment To Myself 22 November 2024 - 12 January 2025 Saatchi Gallery More info Learn more Samuel Nnorom: Multitude or Minority 19 October – 24 November Saatchi Gallery More info Learn more Tiffanie Delune: The Geography of Feelings 3 October – 21 November Gallery 1957 More info Learn more Kalaeb Abate & Dr. Hassan Aliyu: More Than Meets the Eye 8 October – 16 November Rele London More info Learn more Alexis Peskine: Forest Figures 3 October – 9 November October Gallery More info Learn more Malik Roberts: The Double Up 13 September – 26 October D'Stassi Art More info Learn more Load More Subscribe to our newsletter Email Subscribe Thanks for subscribing!

Jayeola Joshua Jay Joshua is a Nigerian artist whose paintings draw from personal experiences, cultural heritage, and everyday life. Working primarily with expressive colour, texture, and layered detail, he uses red as a recurring element to symbolise strength, passion, and determination. His work often reflects themes of identity, faith, and resilience, translating emotion into bold visual form. Joshua approaches each piece with intention, sketching, researching, and refining as his ideas take shape on canvas. Through his art, he captures moments of struggle and hope, creating scenes that speak to growth, self-belief, and the courage to keep pushing forward. Lady in Pearl, 2023 Acrylic on canvas Daddy’s Shoe Acrylic on canvas The girl child Acrylic on canvas Jacob’s blessing Acrylic on canvas Safe Space Acrylic on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Learn more about the contemporary artist Kimathi Mafafo. Kimathi Mafafo Kimathi Mafafo , a South African artist, specialises in embroidery, oil painting, and installation. She challenges historical stereotypes about gender inequality in Africa, primarily focusing on celebrating the black female and depicting abstract forms. Her works often feature lush, verdant imagery—characterised by lush greenery—a striking contrast to her upbringing in the dusty mining town of Kimberly in the Northern Cape. Emerging Into Self III, 2023 Hand and Machine Stitched Embroidery on fabric, 68.5 x 56.5 cm A Girl's Knowledge Comes from the Mother, 2022 Hand and Machine Stitched Embroidery on fabric, 164.5 x 135 cm Pride in My Colourful World, 2023 Hand and Machine Stitched Embroider on fabric, 141 x 129 cm Responsibility, 2022 Hand and Machine Stitched Embroidery on fabric, 125 x 206 cm Cradlesome, 2021 Machine and Hand Stitched on fabric, 135 x 95 cm Emerging Into Self I, 2023 Hand and Machine Stitched Embroidery on fabric, 96.5 x 67 cm Connect with the Artist

Learn more about the contemporary artist Kimathi Mafafo. Mikela Henry-Lowe Mikela Henry-Lowe, a Jamaican artist based in London, creates vibrant portraits celebrating the beauty of Black women. By breaking down images into patterns and fragments of colour, she challenges negative stereotypes, reimagining contemporary portraiture with striking compositions. Her work captures the colourful personality of both subject and artist, celebrating the multiplicity of Black women and inviting viewers to question societal norms. Purple Haze Acrylic gouache on canvas, 50 x 40cm Love a Good Print Acrylics and Oils on linen, 60 x 50cm Untitled, 2023 Acrylic and Oils on canvas, 100 x 70cm Pineapple, 2021 Acrylics and Oils on canvas, 90 x 60cm Strobe Light, 2023 Acrylic on Snowdon cartridge paper, 100 x 70cm Connect with the Artist

Sabina Silver Sabina Silver, is a Ghanian artist whose work explores the intersections of personal identity and collective memory. Her art reflects experiences of migration, fear, and Blackness, alongside deeper narratives of girlhood and womanhood. Drawing from her Ghanaian heritage, Silver uses red, black, and white as symbols of loss and resilience, creating a dialogue between history and the present. Plants and animals often appear in her work as symbols of healing and renewal, as she creates spaces for reflection and transformation. Silver’s practice focuses on reclaiming forgotten or overlooked stories, particularly those tied to the experiences of women and girls, acknowledging individual and collective wounds. Silver's work opens a space for healing and the possibility of renewal. My big lips dey yarn stories of my forefathers, 2024 Acrylic and oil pastels on textured acid-free paper Nanadɔm Hwe Yɛn (The Ancestors Watch Over Us), 2024 Mixed media on canvas Mogya mu na nkwa wɔ, 2024 Acrylic and oil pastels on textured acid-free paper Poppies of Memory, 2024 Acrylic, oil pastels and foam clay on canvas When I Close My Eyes, I Find Peace Within, 2024 Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Florence Nanteza Florence Nanteza, is a Ugandan artist whose work explores the connection between art, nature, and holistic well-being. Using banana fiber collages and vintage floral fabrics, Nanteza draws on her childhood memories and cultural heritage to create pieces that evoke nostalgia and reverence for the natural world. Inspired by her time working with a traditional medicine clinic, her art reflects a deep appreciation for the healing properties of plants and herbs. Through her intricate collages, Nanteza invites viewers to reflect on their own memories and dreams, offering a transformative perspective on the healing power of art and nature. My Pillar, 2023 Collage and acrylics on canvas Patience, 2023 Collage and acrylics on canvas Far away, 2023 Collage and acrylics on canvas LONGING, 2023 Collage and acrylics on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Nedia Were Nedia Were, is a self-taught Nigerian artist whose figurative works explore the joys, struggles, and memories of growing up in Nigeria. Using a distinctive scribble technique with ballpoint pen, alongside other media like acrylic and crayon, Adesiyan creates intricate portraits that evoke nostalgia and emotional depth. Inspired by childhood experiences and the influence of his artist uncle, his art captures the essence of everyday life, offering viewers a reflective connection to their own stories. Through delicate lines and textures, Adesiyan’s works resonate with themes of resilience, simplicity, and the beauty of formative years. The Portrait of Naliaka, 2021 The Male figure, 2022 Acrylic and oil on canvas Mukhana Mumwamu 6, 2021 Acrylic and oil on canvas Omukhana Mutiti, 2024 Acrylic and oil on canvas Ipicha Ya Vudukhu, 2024 Acrylic and oil on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Samuel Olayombo Samuel Olayombo, is a Nigerian artist whose textured, large-scale portraits explore themes of gender, masculinity, and cultural identity. Olayombo's acrylic paintings create vibrant and dramatic compositions, often portraying male subjects in non-gender-normative ways. His use of a palette knife adds intricate, three-dimensional textures that evoke scarring, a nod to Yoruba cultural practices. Influenced by artists like Vincent Van Gogh and Arja Valimaki, Olayombo’s work challenges traditional notions of gender and masculinity, incorporating pastel pinks and roses to confront stereotypes and promote equality. Through his art, Olayombo redefines the constructs of identity and cultural expression. Sheriff Williams, 2022 Acrylic on canvas Sheriff Williams, 2022 Acrylic on canvas Michael Cherryfield, 2024 Acrylic on canvas Jeremy Hathaway, 2023 Acrylic on canvas DreamBoat, 2022 Acrylic on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >