London

Bodys Isek Kingelez
Lives & Works in Died 2015, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Bodys Isek Kingelez was a visionary Congolese artist who created intricate architectural sculptures that he called “extreme maquettes.” He was born in the Belgian Congo in 1948, and grew up during a period of enormous political and social transformation. After graduating from secondary school, Kingelez made Kinshasa his home in 1970. He worked briefly as teacher to support his studies, then began to experiment with assembling imaginary structures that presented a redemptive vision for the anarchic city of Kinshasa.  Kingelez’s work has been showcased globally including exhibitions at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and at Documenta XI in Kassel. He is also the first Black artist to have a solo exhibition (City Dreams) at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Bodys Isek Kingelez will be presented by The Gallery of Everything. 
Bodys Isek Kingelez, Dorothe, 2007, acrylic, paper, paperboard, wood, 72 x 63 x 50 cm. Courtesy The Gallery of Everything.

Artists 2023