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London 2013

  • 1-54 Forum 2013
  • Exhibitors 2013
  • Press 2013
  • Projects 2013

Seydou Keïta

Born in 1921 in Bamako, Mali. Died in 2001 in Paris, France.

Seydou Keïta, 'Untitled (Odalisque)', 1956-57, Gelatin silver print, 50 x 60 cm, Courtesy of Magnin-A 

Seydou Keïta’s photography eloquently portrays Bamako society during its era of transition from a cosmopolitan French colony into an independent capital. Initially trained by his father in carpentry, Keïta’s career as a photographer was launched in 1935 when an uncle presented him with his first camera, a Kodak Brownie Flash. During his adolescence, Keïta mastered the technical challenges of shooting and printing, later purchasing a large format camera.

In 1948, he opened his own studio in Bamako and quickly built up a successful business. Whether photographing individuals, families or professional associations, Keïta balanced both a strict sense of formality and a remarkable level of intimacy with his subjects. Like many professional photographers of the time, he furnished his studio with numerous props, from backdrops and costumes, to Vespas and luxury cars. Keïta commented on his studio practice: ‘It’s easy to take a photograph, but what really made a difference was that I always knew how to find the right position and I was never wrong’.

Selected Artists

Donkor, Godfried

Moke

Seydou Keïta

Katembo, Kiripi

Sinzogan, Julien

Dingwall, Justin

Samba, Chéri

Ndiaye, Cheikh

Artists 2013

  • A

    • Aboudia
    • Adama Kouyaté
    • Agbodjelou, Leonce Raphael
    • Amahiguéré Dolo
    • Amina Menia
  • B

    • Bandoma, Steve
    • Baudouin Mouanda
    • Boutté, Nathalie
  • C

    • Cyprien Tokoudagba
  • D

    • Dicko, Saidou
    • Dingwall, Justin
    • Donkor, Godfried
    • Douglas Camp, Sokari
  • E

    • Edson Chagas
    • El Baz, Mohamed
    • EL Loko
  • F

    • François-Xavier Gbré
    • Frank Marshall
    • Frédéric Bruly Bouabré
  • G

    • Gaba, Meschac
    • George Lilanga
    • Glover, Ablade
    • Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude
    • Guerresi, Maïmouna
  • H

    • Hajjaj, Hassan
    • Harandane Dicko
    • Hazoumè, Romuald
  • J

    • James Muriuki
  • K

    • Karel Nel
    • Karo Akpokiere
    • Katembo, Kiripi
    • Koko Robert Bi, Jems
  • L

    • Luzamba, Zemba
  • M

    • Mabunda, Gonçalo
    • Mahlangu, Esther
    • Maiga, Hamidou
    • Malick Sidibé
    • Mancoba, Ernest
    • Manuela Sambo
    • Mavis Tauzeni
    • Michéa, Vincent
    • Miriam Syowia Kyambi
    • Moataz Nasr
    • Moke
    • Monteiro, Fabrice
    • Moschetti, Jean-Claude
    • Mudariki, Richard
    • Musekiwa, Terrence
  • N

    • Ndiaye, Cheikh
    • Nestor Da
    • Nzebo, Boris
  • O

    • Okhai Ojeikere, J.D.
    • Okore, Nnenna
    • Ové, Zak
    • Owusu-Ankomah
  • P

    • Paul Sika
    • Placido Guimaraes
    • Platter, Cameron
  • Q

    • Quenum, Gérard
  • R

    • Rachid Koraïchi
    • Richard Butler-Bowdon
  • S

    • Samba, Chéri
    • Sammy Baloji
    • Seydou Keïta
    • Shomali, Kura
    • Sinzogan, Julien
    • Soudan, Gor
    • Stanley, Ransome
  • T

    • Takadiwa, Moffat
  • U

    • Uche James-Iroha
  • V

    • Virginia Chihota
    • Virginia Ryan
  • W

    • Wycliffe Mundopa
  • Y

    • Younès Rahmoun
  • Z

    • Zangewa, Billie
    • Zinkpè, Dominique

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