Kiné Aw

Born in Dakar in 1977, Kiné Aw – her full name is Fatou Marie Françoise Aw – spent part of her childhood in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. It was this childhood, marked by the artistic and cultural vibrancy of the Congolese capital, that ignited a lasting passion for art within her. Graduating from the École nationale des Arts in Dakar in 2006, Kiné Aw settled in the Village des Arts in Dakar, where she works in her studio, which she describes as her 'laboratory,' a place for creation and experimentation.

Kiné Aw’s work is distinguished by a subtle dialogue between tradition and modernity. Her pieces interrogate ancestral African values while engaging in a reflection on the interactions and transformations of the contemporary world. Inspired by surrealism and cubism, she develops a unique style characterized by the significance of curved lines.

She draws inspiration from African mythology and symbols from ancient Egypt, such as the Eye of Horus, as well as local spiritual practices like Ndeup and Leuk Daour. These influences lend her work a dreamlike and mystical dimension, populated with mythological figures and enigmatic symbols. She also weaves connections with other universal mythologies, such as that of ancient Greece, exploring the complex figure of Medusa, for instance.

The woman, in all her complexity and multifaceted nature, remains at the center of her artistic approach. Through her art, Kiné Aw explores the struggles, rights, desires, and aspirations of women confronted with the challenges of a changing society where modernity and ancestral heritage intersect. Her work highlights the tensions between rootedness and emancipation, inviting reflection on the place of African women in a world in perpetual transformation.

Technically, Kiné Aw favors the use of varied materials, such as tar, acrylic paint, and pigments. Through these mediums, she seeks to transform the disorder of the world into a singular 'order,' expressing a personal vision of Africa in search of a modernity both enriched and sometimes hindered by centuries-old traditions.

Her exceptional journey, marked by exhibitions in Senegal, Europe, the United States, and China, reflects international prominence and remarkable institutional recognition. A recipient of the Cuomo Foundation Prize in Monaco in 2008, she quickly established herself on the global art scene. The artist has been selected multiple times for the Dakar Biennale, notably exhibiting in 2014 at the IFAN Museum. She is also present at international art fairs such as PRIZM Art Fair in Miami (on the sidelines of Art Basel, 2019) and ROOTS Atlanta in 2021, celebrating the history of women. Her work is supported by renowned institutions, including the Blachère Foundation in France, Attijariwafa Bank Foundation in Morocco, and the James E. Lewis Museum of Art in Baltimore, where she has also conducted workshops.

Kiné Aw has participated in notable artist residencies in China, Morocco, Germany, and the Netherlands. Her works are included in several prestigious collections worldwide. They are notably part of the Blachère Foundation in France, the royal collection of Mohammed VI in Morocco, the James E. Lewis Museum of Art in Baltimore, and the Attijariwafa Bank Foundation in Morocco. Her work also enriches the collections of the Mbari Institute of Contemporary African Art in Washington D.C., the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, the Cuomo Foundation in Monaco, and the Senegal Department of Culture, among other renowned institutions.