Steve Bandoma

Painter | DR Congo

Steve Bandoma is concerned about themes such as enculturation, identity, conflict between tradition and modernity and the materiality of the West world. However, he addresses these topics through his works with humor, in an ironic way most of the times.

“My work always seeks new ways to explore human nature, emotions, experiences, feelings, insights with a smile, in a way that lift people out of their daily lives.”

Portrait

Steve Bandoma was born in 1981 in Kinshasa. In 2004, he graduated from the Kinshasa Academy of Fine Arts and then opted to move to South Africa, where he gradually constructed his own style, raised his profile, began to exhibit regularly and finally managed to make a name for himself on the South African art scene. In 2009, Bandoma hit the road again, traveling to Paris to take up a residency at the Cité Nationale des Arts. In 2011, he exhibited his work at Art Basel, in Pointe Noire and London, and finally moved back to Kinshasa in 2012, where he showed his work at the Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles and at the French Institute.

Bandoma was part of the creators of Librisme Syngerie, an Avant-Gard collective that suggested a free and innovative approach to art. This is still present in most of his works. After trying many techniques, different art fields and materials, he has adopted a very personal technique, mostly consisting of paintings and collages on paper or sculptures made by recycled materials. He is driven by issues like politics, religion, the environment or racial differences, always expressed in a very chaotic and bizarre way in order to reflect the energy and violence of the present world, although the final product does usually result in a harmonious composition. 

Bandoma considers himself ‘contemporary’ and ‘universal’, therefore, he is concerned about themes such as enculturation, identity, conflict between tradition and modernity and the materiality of the Western world. However, he addresses these topics through his works with humor, in an ironic way most of the times.

Several of Steve Bandoma’s artworks were exhibited at the Beauté Congo – Congo Kitoko exhibition at the Fondation Cartier (Paris). Steve’s work was recently exhibited at the Royal Museum for Central Africa and in solos in Germany, Congo, the UK and Italy.

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Credentials

Solo exhibitions

2024

Kongolité, Castang Art Project, Perpignan

2023

Lobotomisation, ArtClub, Bonn, Germany

Egrégore, Espace Texaf-Bilembo, Kinshasa, D.R. Congo

2022

Open Studio, Exposition VIP pour trois jours, Texaf Bilembo, Kinshasa

2020

Papier de Societé, Espace Texaf Bilembo, Kinshasa, R.D. Congo

Camouflages, Sulger-Buel Gallery, Londen, UK

2017

Présentation au siège des Carabinieri, Rome, Italie

Possession, EspaceTexaf-Bilembo, Kinshasa, R.D. Congo

2015

Swab Art Fair, solo show presented for the Gallery Angalia, Barcelona, Spain

2014

Kin la bele, Jack Bell Gallery, London, Royaume Uni

2013

Combat du siècle, Gallery Antonio Nardone, Brusseles, Belgium

Jack Bell Gallery, London, United Kingdom

Mutatis Mutandis, Centre Culturel Français de Kinshasa, R.D. Congo

2012

Jack Bel Gallery, London, United Kingdom

L’heure des shocs, Wallonie Brussels International de Kinshasa

2011

Centre Culturel Français, Pointe-Noire, Congo Brazavile

2009

Féminisme, Cité Internationale des Arts de Paris

AVA Gallery, Cape Town

2008

Contempocalypse, Aliance Française du Cape Town

Group exhibitions

2024

ReThinking Collections, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium

2023

Down to earth, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands

CONGO/Passé composé, Angalia galerie, Paris, France

2022

MAG, 18ieme Salon D’Art Contemporain. Montreux Music and Convention Center, Switserland

ITJT Présentation Deck et Exposition, L’impact historique crée par la Belgique en DR Congo, USA

2021

Group expo “Africa reborn”, Quai Branly Museum, Paris, France 

Trio expo “Papiers de Societé”, Espace Texaf Bilembo, Kinshasa, R.D. Congo

2020

Discovery Art Fair via OpenArtExchange, Frankfurt, Germany

Hello 2020!, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands

The fight of the Century, Kloser art Gallery, Kalmthout, Belgium

2019

Luxembourg Art Fair, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, LuxExpo The Box, Luxembourg

ST-ART, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Strasbourg, France

New World, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands

Na Kinshasa Eza Possible, Galerie MAGNIN-A, Paris, France

Généalogies Futures, Biennale de Lubumbashi

Megalapolis – Stimmen aus Kinshasa, Grassi Muséum, Leipzig, Germany

2018

African passions, Palais Cadaval via Galerie Magnin-A, Evora, Portugal

2017

1-54, Contemporary African Art Fair via Galerie Magnin-A, London, UK

Art Paris via Galerie Magnin-A, Paris, France

Salon Zürcher Africa, Galerie Zürcher, Angalia, Paris, France

Lumières d’Afriques, Palais des Nations, Genève, Suisse

2016

AKAA Paris, African contemporary art fair via Galerie Angalia, Carreau du Temple, Paris, France

1-54, Contemporary African Art Fair via Galerie Magnin-A, London, UK

Demain Kinshasa, Journées Utopiques, Programme Culturel Franco Alemand, Institut Français, Kinshasa, R.D. Congo

African Artists Enlightenment, African Artists for Development (AAD), Abidjan, Côte d’Lvoire

2015

African Artists Enlightenment, African Artists for Development (AAD), Paris

Towards Intersection, Kauru Contemporary Art from Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

African Imagined, Sandtown Art Gallery, Johannesburg

Beauté Congo-Congo Kitoko, Foundation Cartier, Paris

Ostrale ‘015, 9th International Exhibition Contemporary of Art, Germany

1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Jack Bell Gallery, Somerset House, London

1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Jack Bell Gallery, NewYork

Congo across the water, New Orleans Museum of Art, USA

2014

Congo across the water, Princeton University Art Museum, New Jersey, USA

Congo across the water, Musée Royal del’ Afrique Central, Tervuren, Belgium

2013

Paris Art Fair, Magnin-A, Paris

Galerie Antonio Nardone, OFF Art Fair, Brussels

London Art Fair, Jack Bell Gallery, London

Congo across the water, Le Musée Samuel P. Méfaits, Florida, USA

Congo across the water, University Press of Florida, USA

Maendeleo, Centre Walon d’Art Contemporain, Chantainairaie, Belgium

Lubumbashi Inakaribisha Kinshasa, Dialogues ASBL, Lubumbashi, D.R. Congo

2012

Les Fanthomes à Jack cloche Gallery, London

The Menippean uprising, Blank project gallery, Cape Town

2011

Focus11, Contemporary African Art, Salon d’Art Basel, Switzerland

Frech, Everard Read Galery, Cape Town

Deux mille dix raisons de vivre dans une petite ville, Ghothe on Main, Johannesburg

Artistic residence

2023

OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands

2019

OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands

Généalogie futures, Pisha, Biennal of Lubumbashi

2012

Mutatismutandis, Institut Français, Kinshasa, D.R. Congo

2011

Foundation Nirox, with Geofrey Hendrick and Lorenzo Fusi, Johannesburg

Institut Français de Pointe-noire, Congo Brazavile

2009

Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris

Main d’oeuvres, Esapce for Creation and Citizen, Paris

Businessman, Infecting the City Festival, Africa Centre, Cape Town

F+F École des Arts, Pro Helvetia (Swiss Visa for the Culture) Zürich, Switzerland

2008

Greatmore Studios, Cape Town

Publicatons

  • Les restitutions vues par les artistes, Beaux Arts Magazine, February 2021, p. 38-39. (YouTube video discussion
  • Papiers de Societé, vol. 3 Collection of artists of the 21st century/RDC, Kinshasa, RDC. Exhibition catalogue
  • Possessions, Kinshasa, RDC. Exhibition catalogue.
  • Congo across the water, Musée Royal de l’Afrique centrale, Tervuren, Belgium. Exhibition Catalogue
  • Congo across the water, Musée Samuel P.Méfaits, Floride. Exhibition Catalogue
  • Congo across the water, University press of Florida, USA. Exhibition Catalogue
  • 3rd Edition Journal SAVVY for the texts critiques about the Contemporary African Art. Magazine
  • L’heure de chocs, Walonie Brussls International. Exhibition Catalogue
  • L’Espace, monnaie in the Contemporary African Art. Coffee table book.
  • POP. Coffee table book
  • Intervention, UNISA Art Gallery. Exhibition Catalogue

 

Awards & distinctions

Steve Bandoma is the recipient of several prizes and residency grants (nominee Prix de la cité Strasbourg at ST-ART Strasbourg (10 best artists), Pro Helvetia, Zurich; visa pour la creation, Cultures France; Art Buzz Book 2009 Collection, USA). 

He has also been a teacher in South Africa, member of various artistic projects (Visual Art Network in South Africa, African Art Institute) and co-curator of the Amani Art Festival in Cape Town.