Self-taught, Joseph-Francis Sumegné has been working as a painter and sculptor since 1976. Influenced by the traditional sculpture of his home region, Sumegné’s work is characterised by a synthesis of different disciplines, which include sculpture, jewellery design, basketry and sewing.

During his three years residency at doual’art – from 1993 to 1996 – Sumegné created La Nouvelle Liberté, a monumental twelve metres-high sculpture. Subsequent to this experience, he was invited to create outdoor sculpture works internationally, notably in France and Germany. One of his most recent sculptures within this vein is Le Monument pour la Paix, which was exhibited at the Contemporary Art Biennale in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Sumegné has been exhibited worldwide, including the Osaka Triennial in Osaka, Japan; Dak’Art, the Biennial of the Contemporary African Art in Dakar, Senegal; and the Fondation Blachère in Apt, France, among others.