Souleymane Konaté (1983) is an Ivorian artist. Konaté creates colorful, surrealist scenes where humans, animals, and plants merge. Inspired by Bambara cosmogony, his layered works explore spirituality and urban life. In this series, Konaté draws upon his observations and cultural heritage to represent the shared values essential for living together: dialogue, tolerance, respect, and freedom of expression.  

Souleymane Konaté

“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.”

“Soul”, as Souleymane likes to be known, is a self-taught visual artist. He paints with acrylic on canvas. 

Soul 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.

Soul has exhibited in Abidjan, Dakar, Geneva, London, Marrakesh, Paris, Chine, 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.

  Souleymane Konaté, Inclusion,  2025, 120 X     120 cm, Acrylic on Canvas