African art

African art is art made in Africa or by Africans. Although the term itself is debatable, as there are few other continents whose art is grouped in this way, and given the differences between individual countries within Africa, historically art from Africa has often been considered in this way.

African art includes sculpture, masks, ceramics, metalwork, painting, textiles, performance art, and architecture. Its styles and forms vary over time and among different communities, ethnicities, regions, kingdoms, and religious groups.

African art has a long history going back over 15,000 years.It also covers contemporary artists and media including photography, video, installation, and performance. Today, artists across Africa work in many styles and materials.

Some objects were made for everyday use; others were used in ceremonies or had religious, social, or political meaning. African art has influenced artists in many parts of the world.

In the early 1900s, European artists such as Pablo Picasso drew ideas from African sculptures and masks.

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  1. ↑ Visonà, Monica Blackmun; Poynor, Robin; Cole, Herbert M. (2008). A History of Art in Africa (2nd ed.). Pearson/Prentice Hall. ISBN 9780136128724.
  2. ↑ Enwezor, Okwui; Okeke-Agulu, Chika (2009). Contemporary African Art Since 1980. Damiani. ISBN 9788862080927.
  3. ↑ Visonà, Monica Blackmun; Poynor, Robin; Cole, Herbert M. (2008). A history of art in Africa (2nd ed ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-612872-4. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  4. ↑ Madeline, Laurence; Martin, Marilyn, eds. (2006). Picasso and Africa. Cape Town: Bell-Roberts. ISBN 9780620357210.
  5. ↑ "African Art in the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 21 October 2026.