Art galleries exhibition spaces foundations and cultural centers Congo Brazzaville

The gallery is located in the home of the art merchant Jacques Bouti, it is not exactly a gallery in the sense of commercial space with its opening hours, etc. It is recommended to call to announce his visit. Jacques Bouti broadcasts the paintings of some of the best contemporary Congolese artists.

The imposing sculptures made from recycled materials, including the famous elephant made from tin cans, which take pride of place in the courtyard of this art center run by women artists, immediately fascinate us. This association, founded in 2000, aims to train Bantu and indigenous women in painting and sculpture. The gallery features works by these artists, including paintings by Judith Tonda, the deputy president. A pleasant stopover.

On the initiative of Sandra Plachesi, a French collector living in Congo-Brazzaville for over ten years, this art gallery opened in 2018 in the heart of the capital. It offers a new showcase for artists from Equatorial Africa to disseminate their work and thus make themselves known. Colorful paintings, sculptures and photographs adorn this modern venue over the course of the various exhibition-sales. Particular emphasis is placed on artists from the two Congo regions, who complement each other harmoniously. A beautiful moment of art.

This private gallery-museum, which aims to become a national reference for Congolese heritage in the near future, houses a rich collection of over 3,000 antique art objects, ranging from masks to statuettes, from raffia loincloths to colonial earthenware. The exhibition is the work of Felix Makouiza (1941-2022), a career doctor who collected African art for almost 50 years. The gallery-museum is very active, offering educational activities, art restoration and student support.

Art Brazza's little sister opened its doors in Pointe-Noire in 2022, a few blocks from the town hall on the way to avenue Charles de Gaulle. As in Brazzaville, it exhibits contemporary artists from all over Africa, mainly from the two Congos. The owner, a Frenchwoman with a passion for art who has lived in the Congo for over 10 years, shares with us her favorites from the exhibitions she organizes. A good place to stop and discover new African talent.

A central and very accessible market where one hundred small stalls overlap with the honest choice of Congolese crafts: modern statuettes with ebony, almost bluish qui, beautifully patina, leather bags and statuettes, sandals, jewelry, masks… Some stands also offer fetishes, spears and jet axes, although difficult nowadays to report in a cabin baggage. Prices are to negotiate lazily under the hot sheet.

Opened in 2021, this gallery, located in the very south of the capital, promotes the works of visual artist Rhodes Makoumbou and her late father, David, once a renowned painter. Rhodes' oil canvases, often painted with knives, highlight the social activities of African women, as do the gigantic sculptures in the garden, representing the trades practiced by women. It is also a place for training the younger generation and hosting activities. A small bar adjoins the gallery for art lovers.

On the initiative of Leadership Congo, a local social and cultural association, this cultural center opened in January 2021. Since then, it has hosted a variety of performances, from theater to slam, from gospel to percussion, and from book presentations to photo exhibitions. The active Facebook page is well worth a look for information on upcoming shows. The cultural center also aims to be a space for sharing and artistic expression, with residencies for artists who can take part in training workshops and stay overnight.

Opened in 2018 in the grounds of Mikhael's Hotel, this private contemporary art gallery exhibits renowned Central African artists. The aim? To bring today's artists closer to art lovers and enthusiasts, potential customers. All vernissages take place in the presence of the painter, who also regularly comes to the hotel to prepare his canvases in front of interested customers. Exhibitions generally rotate on a monthly basis. Otherwise, the gallery hangs paintings from its own rich and varied collection. A colorful stopover.