Sapate Doudou's works blend surreal abstract imagery with figurative elements, offering dreamlike reflections on modern society. Rooted in the socio-political complexities of his upbringing and influenced by Angola’s tradition of socially conscious art, Sapate’s style carries echoes of Cristiano Mangovo and the expressive boldness of Bacon and Picasso.

"My work reflects the reality I come from—chaotic, complex, but always searching for meaning and connection."

Sapate Doudou (1982), also known as Felipe Conde, is a self-taught visual artist, serigraphy screen printer, and active member of Angola’s professional artist society UNAP. He currently lives and works in Luanda, Angola. Born in the Angolan exclave of Cabinda into a creative family—his uncle a sculptor—his artistic inclinations began early. His formative years were shaped by instability, navigating a childhood marked by survival in a conflict-stricken environment and frequent relocations in search of safety and opportunity.

As a child, he fled with his family to Congo-Brazzaville, eventually returning to Cabinda in 2000, where he earned his teaching certificate. He later moved to Kinshasa, DR Congo, to study at the Academy of Fine Arts, but his time there was cut short. Returning to Angola, he honed his craft through practical experience as a commercial serigraphy printer, while also completing a degree in computer science in 2016.

That same year marked a turning point with his first solo exhibition in Luanda. He subsequently joined Atelier Mawete—an influential collective known for nurturing some of Luanda’s prominent contemporary artists—where he took on administrative duties while deepening his exploration of painting. His 2022 solo show Genesis at the respected Tamar Golan Gallery cemented his status as a professional artist and catalyzed his growing recognition.

Sapate’s recent work embraces a surrealist, abstract language interwoven with figurative elements—dreamlike visions attempting to grasp the disorder and injustice of everyday life, while holding fast to what truly matters. His visual voice, while clearly inspired by artists like Cristiano Mangovo (a fellow Mawete alum), Picasso, and Francis Bacon, remains uniquely his own: fluid, still images that echo universal human values in a world seemingly spinning off its axis.