If you are an art lover looking for some inspiration while visiting the Republic of Congo’s capital city Brazzaville, you will be thrilled to discover these amazing art galleries. Below are the best art galleries for art enthusiasts visiting Brazzaville.
Founded in 2008 by the Dépêches de Brazzaville (the first press group of Central Africa), the Congo Basin Gallery Museum is filled with creation and expression open to the past and present world. Masks, statues, lances and knives, coins and clothing—all touching testimonies of culture, beliefs and ancestral rites—lie side by side. The gallery features sculptures, drawings and framed paintings of famous Congolese artists such as Marcel Gotène, Rémy mongo Etsion, Bill kouelany, Rhode Bath, Schéba Makoumbou, Eliezer Dinga, Pierre Claver Ngampio, Sylvestre Mangouanza, and Jacque iloki. This gallery strives to rekindle the memory of the elders and their know-how and traditions in the minds of the younger generation.
Situated in the heart of Brazzaville, the AN’case Gallery, is a mixture of professional and amateurs of art. A real blend of culture at the hub of creations and works of Congolese artists from Congo Brazzaville and Congo Kinshasa, the AN’Case Gallery is a center for convivial discussions and discovery of artists. Visitors can find abstract, figurative, and collage styles of art work. The pieces exhibited in this gallery range from acrylic paints or oil paint in order to create pieces with different designs and textures. One can also find great classical African works of art like the Bantu masks and raffia cloth. This is the best galley in which to discover modern arts pieces.
Created in 1951 during the pre-colonial era, the Poto-Poto Painting School is located in one of Brazzaville’s most recognized neighborhoods known as Poto-Poto. The school is made up of professional painters and student painters, as well as hosting one of the most famous galleries in Brazzaville. The art pieces in the gallery adopt a variety of painting styles from naturalist, impressionist, and abstract. The work in this gallery reflects daily life in the Republic of Congo. The paintings also vary from natural pigments such as clay, charcoal, camwood, and resin, which adds a glimpse of originality to the paintings. This gallery is the perfect place to experience the precious cultural heritage of Congo.
Founded in 1960 this art gallery has specific pieces specializing in wood carving. The “Konongo” carvings are the symbols of a tradition handed down from generation to generation. The gallery is filled with creative woodwork, carvings bearing the “Konongo” label. Most of the pieces in the gallery have been sold abroad for over three decades. The gallery is very unique by virtue of its works of art and the traditional and contemporary carvings crafted with artistic finesse. The beauty of its exhibitions is a source of attraction for thousands of locals and tourists.
Institut Français du Congo is the essential place to go in order to experience the true artistic culture of Brazzaville. This place was first built in 1993 by French architect Olivier-Clément Cacoub. It offers a variety of artwork and has since accommodated a variety of Congolese artists, ranging from musicians to poets. This place is home to multiple artistic talents within Congo, and is filled with a gallery of work ranging from photography to paintings.
