Souleymane Konate

Souleymane Konate


 

Born in Côte d’Ivoire in 1983. Lives and works in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. 

“Art is a basic human need. It erases all barriers and builds understanding. Art has taught me wisdom, tolerance, sharing, love - the meaning of life.”

Energetic, spontaneous, and free-flowing, Souleymane Konaté’s paintings break from conventional perceptions of what images and appearances are supposed to be. The characters that animate his work resemble aliens, bendable and colorful, yet human in their expressions and occupations. They showcase that beauty is not in the physical but in our inner qualities and values, and illustrate the artist’s quest to bring out the best in all of us.
“Soul”, as Souleymane likes to be known, paints with acrylic on canvas. He builds his paintings in meticulous layers, and uses bright, contrasting colors as well as different techniques to create cheerful and thought-provoking compositions. He also incorporates at times pages of comic books in his works, and sculpts his trademark figures in wood.
 A self-taught visual artist, Soul has exhibited in Abidjan, Dakar, Geneva, London, Marrakesh, Paris, Shenzhen, and Washington DC. In 2020, he received the First Prize of the Concours Jeunes Talents - Art Contemporain (Competition Young Talents - Contemporary Art) of Société Générale Côte d’Ivoire. His work is featured in the collection of HM Mohamed V, King of Morocco.

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