Africa has long been a powerhouse of creativity, but the spotlight hasn’t always shined where it should. Over the past century, however, famous African painters have carved out space on the global stage—and they’ve done it with boldness, vision, and extraordinary talent.
This article focuses on painting specifically. While African creativity spans many other artforms, here we shine a light on those who made waves with brushes and canvas.
In this Article:
How Painting Evolved in Africa After Colonization
Post-colonial Africa brought a new wave of expression. As countries gained independence, artists began breaking away from colonial influences and redefining what African painting could look like. Painting became a tool for reclaiming history, challenging perceptions, and making sense of fast-changing societies.
Different movements emerged across the continent. Some famous African painters leaned into traditional techniques and stories. Others adopted Western styles, infusing them with local symbolism and themes. Many danced somewhere in between. What connects all famous African painters is a drive to explore identity, politics, community, and beauty in ways that feel true to their experience.
You May Also Like: Reverse Glass Painting: Get to Know Senegal’s Fascinating Art
17 Famous African Painters Who Changed the Game
Below are 17 famous African painters whose work left a mark. Some are household names, others are quietly reshaping the art world. All are worth knowing.
1. Njideka Akunyili Crosby
- From: Nigeria
- Based in: Los Angeles, USA
- Style: Mixed media, often combining painting with photo transfers
- Known for: Blending Nigerian and Western influences into layered domestic scenes
- Notable fact: Her piece “Bush Babies” sold for over $3 million in 2018
2. Julie Mehretu
- From: Ethiopia
- Based in: New York, USA
- Style: Abstract, large-scale, architectural
- Known for: Chaotic yet structured compositions that reflect migration, conflict, and geopolitics
- Notable fact: Commissioned to paint a monumental mural at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
3. Amoako Boafo
- From: Ghana
- Based in: Vienna, Austria and Accra, Ghana
- Style: Finger-painted portraits with bold colors and textured skin
- Known for: Celebrating Black identity and self-expression
- Notable fact: Collected by celebrities like Kim Jones and major institutions worldwide
4. Michael Armitage
- From: Born in Kenya to a British father and Kenyan mother
- Based in: Nairobi and London
- Style: Figurative, using lubugo bark cloth instead of canvas
- Known for: Merging East African stories with European painting traditions
- Notable fact: Founded the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute
5. Chéri Samba
- From: Democratic Republic of Congo
- Based in: Kinshasa, DRC
- Style: Comic-strip-inspired, often with text
- Known for: Satirical social commentary, especially about African politics and daily life
- Notable fact: Featured in the landmark “Magiciens de la Terre” exhibition in Paris in 1989
6. Ben Enwonwu
- From: Nigeria
- Lived in: Nigeria and the UK
- Style: Modernist with African influences
- Known for: Bridging traditional Nigerian aesthetics with European modernism
- Notable fact: His portrait of “Tutu” resurfaced and sold for £1.2 million in 2018
7. Lynette Yiadom-Boakye
- From: Ghanaian descent, born in the UK
- Based in: London
- Style: Oil portraits of fictional Black subjects
- Known for: Mysterious figures placed in timeless, ambiguous settings
- Notable fact: Shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 2013
8. Ghada Amer
- From: Egypt
- Based in: New York, USA
- Style: Embroidery, painting, and installation
- Known for: Feminist art that explores sexuality and identity
- Notable fact: Her work challenges the boundaries between painting and textile
9. Nelson Makamo
- From: South Africa
- Based in: Johannesburg
- Style: Charcoal and oil portraits, often of children
- Known for: Evoking hope, youth, and resilience
- Notable fact: Oprah Winfrey owns one of his pieces
10. Wangechi Mutu
- From: Kenya
- Based in: Nairobi and New York
- Style: Mixed media, collage, sculpture, and painting
- Known for: Dismantling stereotypes of African women through surreal and futuristic visuals
- Notable fact: First artist commissioned to create sculptures for the Met’s Fifth Avenue niches
11. Aboudia Abdoulaye Diarrassouba
- From: Ivory Coast
- Based in: Abidjan and Brooklyn
- Style: Neo-expressionist, influenced by street art and Ivorian graffiti
- Known for: Capturing the chaos and energy of urban life
- Notable fact: Frequently compared to Jean-Michel Basquiat, but with a distinct West African edge
12. Mohammed Melehi
- From: Morocco
- Based in: Morocco and New York (during key periods)
- Style: Hard-edge abstraction with North African motifs
- Known for: Vibrant wave motifs and bold color blocking
- Notable fact: A leader in post-independence Moroccan art and the Casablanca Art School movement
13. Enfant Précoce
- From: Cameroon
- Based in: Paris and Yaoundé
- Style: Colorful, expressive portraiture with playful titles
- Known for: Celebrating African elegance and everyday life with a humorous twist
- Notable fact: Self-taught and a favorite on the Parisian art scene
14. Rafiy Okefolahan
- From: Benin
- Based in: Togo and Benin
- Style: Abstract and street-inspired, often using found materials
- Known for: Exploring themes of identity and transformation
- Notable fact: His studio doubles as a space for young artists in West Africa
15. Barthélémy Toguo
- From: Cameroon
- Based in: France and Cameroon
- Style: Watercolor, installation, and performance
- Known for: Engaging with issues of migration, power, and humanity
- Notable fact: His art has been shown at the Venice Biennale and Documenta
16. Lionel Smit
- From: South Africa
- Based in: Cape Town
- Style: Contemporary portraiture, often combining sculpture and paint
- Known for: Large, fragmented faces with explosive color
- Notable fact: His sculptures and paintings are collected internationally
17. Kudzanai-Violet Hwami
- From: Zimbabwe
- Based in: London, UK
- Style: Large-scale figurative paintings with collage elements
- Known for: Exploring identity, queerness, and the experience of diaspora through layered, emotional visuals
- Notable fact: She was one of the youngest artists ever selected to represent Zimbabwe at the Venice Biennale
These famous African painters are game-changers.
From Lagos to Cape Town, Dakar to Addis Ababa, they’ve opened doors and supercharged the visibility of African perspectives on canvas. Together, they are reshaping the art world, one brush stroke at a time.
Continue Reading: How Modern African Art and Design Redefine Exciting Spaces
