The British fashion designer Ozwald Boateng has teamed up with Kamba Fine Art to present a group exhibition of African sculpture, photography and painting at his flagship store on Savile Row in Mayfair. The show includes unique pieces by photographer Kofi Allen, who has work in the Hayward and National Portrait galleries, Dutch photographer Ingrid Baars, award-winning painter Dominique Zinkpe from Benin, French photographer Jean-Baptiste Sevette, and Nigerian artist Babajide Olatunji.
Kamba Fine Art was established by Leyla Simple in 2011. Leyla travels Africa extensively looking for promising new talent, and provides the artists she discovers with a platform to exhibit their work at different venues and art fairs around the world. Leyla has recently launched the Kamba Fine Art Prize , a competition open to art students, professionals and amateur artists between 18-30. Entries can be submitted to artprize@kambafineart.com until 19th January 2015.
Kamba Fine Art founder Leyla Simple commented about the collaboration: “Our Kamba team is particularly delighted to be working with Ozwald Boateng; he is a great and innovative artist in his own right, and each collection he creates is both inspiring and elegant. We hope that the combination of art – Ozwald’s and the artists we bring together – will create something truly unique for those who attend the show. The Kamba Fine Art hallmark has always been to present the best of modern art from different media and from selected African countries. Our selections are always a blend of established leaders in selected categories, complemented by a set of selected rising stars of the future – the combination creates a unique blend of the best of contemporary African art in all of its forms.” Ozwald Boateng commented: “African culture is key to the future of the world, and I look forward to celebrating artists of African descent within my space.”
African art exhibition at Ozwald Boateng, London Until 5 January 2015
Kamba Fine art exhibition at Ozwald Boateng, 30 Savile Row, London W1S 3PT is open Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm until 5 January 2015.
http://www.kambafineart.com
Words: By Joanne Shurvell Photo : Jean Baptiste Sevette with Ozwald Boateng suit. Copyright Paul Allen