• About
  • News
  • Friends
  • Applications
  • Contacts
SHOP
  • London
    • Home
    • Exhibitors
    • Artists
    • Press
    • Forum
    • Special Projects
    • VIP Portal
    • What’s On
    • Partners
    • Archive
  • New York
    • Home
    • Press
    • Archive
  • Marrakech
    • Home
    • Exhibitors
    • Artists
    • Press
    • Archive
    • VIP Portal
    • WHAT’S ON
    • Partners
    • Special Projects
  • Paris
    • Home
    • Artists
    • Exhibitors
    • Forum
    • What’s On
    • VIP Portal
    • Press
    • Partners
    • Archive
  • Exhibitors
  • Artists
  • Press
  • Forum
  • Special Projects
  • VIP Portal
  • What’s On
  • Partners
  • Archive
Menu

Samba, Chéri

Born 1956 in Kinto M’Vuila, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lives and works in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Chéri Samba, La vraie carte du monde (N°1), 2011, Acrylic on canvas, 135 x 200 cm
. Courtesy MAGNIN-A  

In 1972, Chéri Samba left school in order to embark on an apprenticeship with the sign painters on Kasa-Vubu Avenue in Kinshasa. From this circle of artists (Moke, Cheik Ledy, among others), arose one of the most vibrant schools of popular painting in the twentieth century. Working both as a billboard painter and a comic strip artist, Samba employed the conventions of both genres, yet was forced to resort to painting on sacking cloth when canvas became unaffordable.

Samba’s paintings of this period reveal his keen perception of the social, political, economic, and cultural realities of Zaire – now Democratic Republic of Congo – and expose facets of everyday life in Kinshasa. His canvases present an ongoing commentary that is reflective of popular customs, sexuality, health, social inequalities and corruption. Group exhibitions include Essentiel Paysage, Musée d’Art Contemporain Africain Al Maaden (MACAAL), Marrakech (2016–17) and Beauté Congo – 1926–2015 – Congo Kitoko, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris (2015).

Selected Artists

Clay Apenouvon

Mestre Didi

Francisco Vidal

Atong Atem

Nadia Ayari

Gor Soudan

Fares Thabet

Bertina Lopes

Artists 2022

  • A

    • Abdoulaye Konaté
    • Aboudia
    • Abu Bakarr Mansaray
    • Adegboyega Adesina
    • Adelaide Damoah
    • Adjani Okpu-Egbe
    • Admire Kamudzengerere
    • Aïcha Snoussi
    • Ajarb Bernard Ategwa
    • Alexis Peskine
    • Amani Bodo
    • Ambrose Rhapsody Murray
    • Amina Agueznay
    • Amogelang Maepa
    • Ange Dakouo
    • Angèle Etoundi Essamba
    • Arébénor Basséne
    • Asemahle Ntlonti
    • Athenkosi Kwinana
    • Athi-Patra Ruga
    • Atong Atem
    • Atsoupé
    • Aurelino dos Santos
    • Austin Uzor
    • Auudi Dorsey
    • Ayanda Mabulu
    • Ayrson Heráclito
  • B

    • Barthélémy Toguo
    • Basil Kincaid
    • Béchir Boussandel
    • Ben Orkin
    • Bertina Lopes
    • Bunmi Agusto
  • C

    • Cameron Platter
    • Cara Nahaul
    • Charlene Komuntale
    • Chris Soal
    • Clay Apenouvon
    • Collins Obijiaku
    • Cow Mash
    • Cristiano Mangovo
    • Crystal Yayra Anthony
  • D

    • David Olatoye
    • Dawit Adnew
    • Demarco Mosby
    • Deniz Pasha
    • Didier Viodé
    • Donald Wasswa
  • E

    • Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga
    • Ernest Dükü
    • Esther Mahlangu
    • Everlyn Nicodemus
  • F

    • Famakan Magassa
    • Fares Thabet
    • Fatiha Zemmouri
    • Francisco Vidal
    • Franco Ndiba
  • G

    • Gary March
    • Ghizlane Sahli
    • Gonçalo Mabunda
    • Gor Soudan
  • H

    • Hana Yilma Godine
    • Hanien Conradie
    • Hassan Hajjaj
    • Henry ‘Mzili’ Mujunga
  • I

    • Ibrahim El-Salahi
    • Isaac Zavale
    • Isabelle D.
    • Isshaq Ismail
  • J

    • Jan Wade
    • Joël Andrianomearisoa
    • Joël Bigaignon
    • Johanna Mirabel
    • Johnson Weree
    • José Adário
  • K

    • Kaloki Nyamai
    • Katlego Tlabela
    • Kenrick McFarlane
    • Khadija Jayi
  • L

    • Lakwena Maciver
    • Lavar Munroe
    • Leila Rose Fanner
    • Leslie Amine
    • LR Vandy
  • M

    • M’barek Bouhchichi
    • M0XC4
    • Malek Gnaoui
    • Manel Ndoye
    • Manyaku Mashilo
    • Mbaye Babacar Diouf
    • Mestre Didi
    • Miguel Angel Payano Jr.
    • Moufouli Bello
    • Mulambö
  • N

    • Nada Elkalaawy
    • Nadia Ayari
    • Nidhal Chamekh
    • Nnenna Okore
  • O

    • Odette Graskie
    • Odinakachi Okoroafor
    • Omar Mahfoudi
    • Onyis Martin
    • Option Nyahunzvi
    • Ozioma Onuzulike
  • P

    • Patrick Bongoy
    • Pedro Neves
    • Pedro Pires
    • Prince Gyasi
  • R

    • Renan Aguena
    • René Tavares
    • Richard Atugonza
    • Robert Peterson
    • Roland Dorcély
    • Romuald Hazoumè
    • Ryan Cosbert
  • S

    • Safaa Erruas
    • Salah Elmur
    • Salifou Lindou
    • Sikelela Owen
    • Slimen Elkamel
    • Sokari Douglas Camp
    • Sola Olulode
    • Souleimane Barry
    • Stan Squirewell
    • Stephané E. Conradie
    • Sthenjwa Luthuli
  • T

    • Tahir Karmali
    • Tegene Kunbi
    • Tewodros Hagos
    • Thameur Mejri
    • Themba Khumalo
    • Troy Makaza
    • Turiya Magadlela
  • W

    • Wura-Natasha Ogunji
  • Y

    • Yasmeen Abdullah
    • Yveline Tropéa
  • Z

    • Zak Ové
    • Zana Masombuka
    • Zanele Muholi

Sign up to our Newsletter

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Artsy
Buy limited edition bags
Privacy Policy

Sign up to our Newsletter