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Biography
© Coralie RabadanBorn in Diré, Mali, Abdoulaye Konaté is an artist living and working in Bamako, Mali. Abdoulaye Konaté is one of the most important figures in contemporary art. From 1972 to 1976 he studied at the Institut National des Arts in Bamako and pursued his education at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana from 1978 to 1985. He was the Head of the Division of the exhibitions at the Musée National du Mali (1895-1997), Director of the Palais de la Culture de Bamako (1998-2002) and Director of the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers Multimédia de Bamako (2003-2016).His works were the subject of several exhibitions and he took part in lots of international biennials.
Combining the aesthetics of the local with global subject matter, he merges political commentary and traditional craftsmanship, Abdoulaye Konaté creates large-scale textile-based installations using woven and dyed clothes, materials native to his homeland Mali and from other countries around the world. Konaté's abstract and figurative textiles explore both aesthetic language and diverse socio-political and environmental issues. Referring to the West-African tradition of using textiles as a means of communication, the artist balances the global issues with an intimate reference to his own life and country.His work often questions the ways in which societies and individuals have been affected by factors such as war, the struggle for power, religion, globalization, ecological shifts and the AIDS epidemic. -
SOLO SHOWS (SELECTION)
2024
La Vie des Signes GALERIE FARAH FAKHRI, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Sambadio Effie Galery, Dubai, UAETemplon, Bruxelles, Belgium
Abdoulaye Konaté: Lune Bleue, Levy Gorvy Dayan, New York, USA
2023
Abdoulaye Konaté - Recent works, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan, Italy
Abdoulaye Konaté: Prélude, LGDR, Paris, France
2022
Hommage à Abdoulaye Konaté, l'étoffe d'un maître - Biennale de Dakar, Sénégal
Des Petits Formats à Dakar - Grand Théâtre National, Dakar, Sénégal
2021
Abdoulaye Konaté - Les Petits Tableaux, Primae Noctis Art Gallery, Lugano, Switzerland
Abdoulaye Konaté - Lune Bleue, Espace Dominique Bagouet, Montpellier
Abdoulaye Konaté , The Diffusion of Infinite Things, Standing Pine, Nagoya, Japan
2020
Idéogrammes, signes, symboles et logos, Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town
Couleurs d'âme, Blain|Southern New York,
US
2018
Textile in Art, The Red Door Gallery, Lagos, NG
2017
Etoffe des songes, Galerie 38, Casablanca, MA; Espace Expressions CDG, Rabat, MA
2016
Abdoulaye Konaté, Primae Noctis Art Gallery, Lugano, CH
Abdoulaye Konaté: Symphonie en couleur, Blain|Southern London, UK
Abdoulaye Konaté, Arken Museum for Moderne Kunst, Copenhagen, DK
2015
Abdoulaye Konaté, Useful Dreams, Blain|Southern Berlin, DE
Abdoulaye Konaté, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan, IT
2013
Abdoulaye Konaté, The World in Textile, Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal, NL
Abdoulaye Konaté, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan, IT
2012
Abdoulaye Konaté, ESADHar - L’Ecole Supérieure d’Art & Design, Le Havre, FR
Abdoulaye Konaté, Fondation Festival sur le Niger Ségou, ML
Abdoulaye Konaté, Tentures Teintures, Maison Revue Noire, Paris, FR
Abdoulaye Konaté, Project Window, InIVA, Rivington Place, London, UK
2011
La toile de Abdoulaye Konaté, Galerie Nationale de Dakar, SN
2010
Abdoulaye Konaté – Exposition rétrospective, Biennale de Dakar, SN
2009
Abdoulaye Konaté, Le temps de la danse, Galerie Saro Leon, Las Palmas, ES
Abdoulaye Konaté: Textile, Forum für Kunst, Heidelberg, DE
1992
Abdoulaye Konaté, Musée National du Mali, Bamako, ML
Abdoulaye Konaté, Musée de I’IFAN, Dakar, SN
1983
Abdoulaye Konaté, Le Petit Salon National, Havana, CU
1976
Abdoulaye Konaté, Maison du Peuple, Diré
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GROUP SHOWS (SELECTION)
2025
Kings and Queens of Africa, Musée du Louvre d'Abu Dhabi,UAE
2024
Unusual materials and forms for a new aesthetic, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan, Italy
2023
Hirafen, Atelier C3T, Tunis, Tunisia
Soft and weak like water, 14th Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju, South Korea
2022
Documenta Kassel 15, Kassel, Germany
Expo Dubai 2020, Mali Pavillon, Dubai, UAE
Still Alive, Aichi Triennale, Aichi, Japan
2021
The black era, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan, Italy
Threads, Zwartzusters monastery, Antwerp, Duende Art Projects
2020
“Global(e) Resistance” at Centre Pompidou, Paris
2019
Africa Universe, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan & Lugano
Hier est la mémoire d’aujourd’hui at L’Espace Commines, Paris, FR
Boundless Encounters: The 3rd Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art, Hangzhou, CN
On the Spiritual Matter of Art, MAXXI Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo, Rome, IT
KUBATANA: An Exhibition with Contemporary African artists, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Oslo, NO
Lend Me Your Dream / Prête-moi Ton Rêve, Le Studio des Arts Vivants, L’Artorium, Casablanca, MA
Museum of Black Civilizations, Dakar, SN;
The Contemporary Arts Rotonde, Abidjan, CI; Lagos, NG; Cape Town, ZA; African Union Headquarters, Addis-Abeba, ET; Rabat, MA
La construcción de lo possible, 13th Havana Biennial, Cuba
2018
African Civilizations: Continuous Creation of Humanity, Museum of Black Civilizations, Dakar, SN
New Materialism, Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm, SE
African Metropolis. An imaginary city, MAXXI, Rome
Ravelled Threads, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York, US
Talisman in the Age of Difference, Stephen Friedman Gallery, London, UK
Pulling at Threads, Norval Foundation, SA
Mobile Worlds or The Museum of our Transcultural Present, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
The Liar’s Cloth, Grimm Gallery, Amsterdam,
2017
Viva Arte Viva, Venice Biennale, IT
Afriques Capitales, La Villette, Paris, FR
Vers le Cap de Bonne Espérance, Gare Saint Sauveur, Lille, FR
BACK TO BLACK:No On and Off Ramps (curated by Babacar Mbow), Art Africa Miami Fair, US
The Summer Show 2017, Royal Academy of Arts (RA), London, UK
Afterwork, ILHAM Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, MY
L’Afrique en capitale, Musée Mohammed VI d’Art moderne et contemporain, Rabat, MA
2016
Still (the) Barbarians, EVA International, Ireland’s Biennial, Limerick, IE
Group Show, 12 Solos, Blain|Southern Berlin, DE
Afterwork, Para Site Hong Kong, HK; tours to ILHAM Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, MY
2015
Katrine Helmerssonand Abdoulaye Konaté, Norrköping- sKonstmuseum, SE
ART_TEXTILES, The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, UK
19th Contemporary Art Festival Sesc_Videobrasil | Southern Panoramas, São Paulo, BR
Streamlines: Metaphorical and Geopolitical Interpretations of the Oceans, Deichtorhallen International Kunst und Fotografie, Hamburg, DE
Obsession, Maison Particulière, Brussels, BE
2013
The Divine Comedy: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory revisited by Contemporary African Artists, Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt, DE; National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, US
Decorum, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, FR
International Sculpture Route Amsterdam: Art Zuid 2013, Amsterdam, NL
Marker 2013, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, AE
Métamorphoses, Musée Bargoin, Clermont Ferrand, FR
2012
Hollandaise, SMBA, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NL; RAW Material Company, Centre Pour l’Art, Dakar, SN
We face forward: Art from West Africa today, Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester, UK
2011
Mixités, Les chantiers de la Lune, La Seyne-sur-Mer, FR
Dégagements… La Tunisie un an après, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, FR
2010
Art Actuel d’Afrique, Collégiale Saint-André, Chartres,
Textile ou fragment de l’histoire d’une collection, Fondation Blachère, Apt, FR
2009
Africa? Una Nuova Storia, Complesso del Vittoriano, Rome, IT
Bienal de la Habana, Havana, CU
2008
Travesía, Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno CAAM, las Palmas de Gran Canaria, ES
Artes Mundi, National Museum, Cardiff, UK
2007
Africa Remix, Museum Kunstpalast, Dusseldorf, DE; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, FR; Hayward Gallery, London, UK;
Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, JP; Documenta 12, Kassel, DE
2006
The Unhomely, Phantom Scenes in Global Society, International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville, Seville, ES
Dak’Art 7éme Biennale de l’Art Africain Contemporain, Dakar, SN
2003
Musée de design et d’arts appliqués contempo rains de Lausanne, CH
Le Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles, BE
2002
Musée de Picardie, Amiens, FR
1998
Routes of Passage, Johannesburg Biennale, Johannesburg, ZA
24th Bienale de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BR
7th Triennale der Kleinplastik, Stuttgart, DE
1997
Die Anderen Modernen, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, DE
1996
The Other Journey, Kunsthalle Krems, AT
1995
Rencontres africaines, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, FR
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PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal, NL
Arken Museum for Moderne Kunst, Ishøj, DK
Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Occidentale, Dakar, SN
Centre Pompidou, Paris, FR
Dak'Art, Biennale de l'Art Africain Contemporain, SN
Foundation Blachère, Apt, FR
Fondation Guy & Myriam Ullens, Geneva, CH
Fundação Sindika Dokolo, AO
Gare do Oriente, Lisbon, PO
Golinelli Collection, Bologna, IT
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, US
Musée National du Mali, Bamako, ML
Musée Bargoin de la Ville de Clermont-Ferrand, FR
Palais Présidentiel du Mali, Bamako, ML
Smithsonian Museum, Washington, US
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NL
Tiroche DeLeon Collection, Jaffa, IL
Uli Sigg Collection, Schloss, CH
Tate Modern, London, UK
The Tang Teaching Museum, Saratoga Springs, US
Vehbi Koc Foundation, Istanbul, TR
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Exhibitions
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UNUSUAL MATERIALS AND FORMS FOR A NEW AESTHETIC
Joël Andrianomearisoa / Abdoulaye Konaté / Troy Makaza / Samuel Nnorom / Moffat Takadiwa / Ifeoma U. Anyaeji 14 Dec 2023 - 30 Jan 2024Read more -
Abdoulaye Konaté
recent works 9 Feb - 24 Mar 2023Read more -
The Black Era
Joel Andrianomearisoa / Abdoulaye Konatè / Gary Simmons / Rashid Johnson / Theaster Gates 28 Oct - 18 Dec 2021Read more -
AFRICA UNIVERSE 2
Januario Jano / Joël Andrianomearisoa / Amani Bodo / Abdoulaye Konaté / Troy Makaza / Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo / Ifeoma U. Anyaeji / Amina Zoubir 28 Feb - 20 Mar 2021Read more -
Abdoulaye Konaté - Solo Show
Abdoulaye Konaté 24 Sep - 7 Nov 2020Read more -
AFRICA UNIVERSE | CHAPTER 2
15 Dec 2019 - 15 Jan 2020Africa Universe 2 is the prosecution of a monumental project started two years ago: Africa Universe. At that time we wrote: 'We have recently recognized and became conscious of the...Read more -
Troy Makaza: "Visceral Politics"
Troy Makaza 14 Nov - 14 Dec 2019Read more -
AFRICA UNIVERSE | CHAPTER 1
26 Sep - 13 Nov 2019Read more -
The Black Sphinx. From Morocco to Madagascar
Mounir Fatmi / Hassan Musa / Julien Creuzet / Ouattara Watts 18 May - 15 Sep 2017Read more -
Solo show
Abdoulaye Konaté 19 Nov 2015 - 10 Feb 2016Read more -
First Solo Exhibition
Abdoulaye Konaté 10 Apr - 10 May 2013Read more -
Africa, assume art position!
Joël Andrianomearisoa / Abdoulaye Konaté / Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo / Mounir Fatmi, Soly Cissé, Barthélémy Toguo, Peter Eastman, Nandipha Mntambo, Moridja Kitenge Banza, Stuart Bird, Atho Patra Ruga 12 Nov 2010 - 30 Jan 2011Read more
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WorksNews
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ECHOES OF AFRICA
Fondazione Golinelli February 10, 2025Primo Marella Gallery is pleased to present “Echoes of Africa ,” an exhibition entirely dedicated to contemporary African art, curated by Fondazione Golinelli and held...Read more -
Abdoulaye Konatè at MUSÉE DU LOUVRE ABU DHABI
Group exhibition - Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power January 23, 2025Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power 29 Januaray - 25 May, 2025 Musée du Louvre Abu Dhabi Abdoulaye Konatè 's artwork...Read more -
Tate modern acquisition
Abdoulaye Konaté: "Intolerance" January 13, 2025Primo Marella Gallery is thrilled to announce that Intolerance , a powerful work by renowned artist Abdoulaye Konaté , has been acquired by the prestigious...Read more -
Primo marella interviewed on african art market
article by il sole 24 ore September 16, 2024Primo Marella was interviewed by Gabriella Grasso of 'Il Sole 24 Ore' about the African art market. The article also included Abdoulaye Konaté's work 'Bleu,...Read more -
Coalescent Lights
1-54 Hong Kong March 26, 20241-54 Hong Kong Coalescent Lights, curated By Kami Gahiga 26-30 March, 2024 at Christie's Hong Kong On view at Christie's Hong Kong from March 26...Read more -
Abdoulaye Konaté featured in "Le monde" articles
AKAA Paris 2023 - Hirafen 2023 January 25, 2024A Tunis, l’exposition « Hirafen » tisse des liens sensibles entre art contemporain et artisanat Full Article here Marché de l’art : la peinture africaine...Read more -
Unusual Materials and Forms for a new Aesthetic - Coming from selected African artists
14 December 2023 - 30 January 2024 December 14, 2023Primo Marella Gallery is pleased to announce its next new gallery exhibition in Milan! The gallery will propose a group exhibition, in which a precise...Read more -
Hirafen
the group show curated by Ludovic Delalande features Abdoulaye Konatè, Joël Andrianomearisoa and Moffat Takadiwa November 4, 2023The Hirafen exhibition offers an original dialogue between contemporary art and crafts. Nineteen multidisciplinary artists have been invited to draw on the skills of Tunisian...Read more -
Abdoulaye Konaté - Gwanju Biennale, South Korea
Abdoulaye Konaté on show at the Gwanju Biennale in South Korea June 22, 2023'SOFT AND WEAK LIKE WATER' 07th April - 09th July 2023 The Biennale explored its theme through four subtopics: Luminous Halo positions the spirit of...Read more -
PMG ArtGeneve booth featured in Le Quotidien de L'art
primo marella gallery booth featured as the cover of the journal February 1, 2023The article states: Contemporary African art was on show at a number of stands, including that of Milanese gallery Primo Marella, which presented five artists...Read more -
Abdoulaye Konaté - Aichi Triennale, Japan
July 30, 2022For the first time, the artist Abdoulaye Konaté will take part in the Aichi Triennale, Japan, from the 30th July to the 10th October 2022....Read more -
Abdoulaye Konaté at Documenta Fifteen, Kassel
June 18, 2022Abdoulaye Konaté will be at Documenta 15 in Kassel, Germany, from June 18 to September 25 2022. Together with the exhibiton of a selection of...Read more -
At Dak'Art 2022, Art Pulsates Through the City
Ocula article featuring Abdoulaye Konaté participation to the 14th Dakar Biennal June 15, 2022 Read more -
ABDOULAYE KONATÉ solo show in Dakar
Abdoulaye Konaté des PETIT FORMATS à Dakar' will be held in collaboration with Primo Marella Gallery May 19, 2022The 14th edition of the Dakar Biennial, Senegal, will pay tribute to Abdoulaye Konaté, winner of the 1996 Grand Prix. For El Hadji Malick Ndiaye,...Read more -
Abdoulaye Konaté - Dakar Biennale, Senegal
the Dakar Biennale will pay tribute to Abdoulaye Konaté, winner of the 1996 Grand Prix. May 19, 2022The 14th edition of the Dakar Biennale will pay tribute to Abdoulaye Konaté, winner of the 1996 Grand Prix. (location: Former Palais de Justice (Courthouse)...Read more
Publications-
Unusual materials and forms for a new aesthetic
Coming from selected African artists | Group Show Primo Marella Gallery , 2023Hardcover book, 119 pagesRead more
Publisher: Primo Marella Gallery
Dimensions: 28 x 24 x 1.5 cm -
Abdoulaye Konaté
SELECTED WORKS AND EXHIBITIONS 2022Softcover book, 217 pagesRead more
Publisher: Primo Marella Gallery
Dimensions: 30 x 21 x 1.7 cm -
The Black Era
Group exhibition catalog Primo Marella Gallery, 2021Hardcover book, 109 pagesRead more
Publisher: Primo Marella Gallery
Dimensions: 28 x 24 x 1.5 cm -
Africa Universe Chapter 1
Group exhibition catalog Primo Marella Gallery , 2019Softcover book, 109 pagesRead more
Publisher: Primo Marella Gallery
Dimensions: 28 x 21 x 1 cm
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