Thierno Diallo, (1968) is a self-taught artist from Mali who makes sculptures and paintings. He is a prolific and committed visual artist, deeply moved by the threats facing his fellow citizens, his country Mali, humanity, and indeed the entire planet. His commitment is evident from the works he creates and the materials he uses, including kola nut pigment and recycled wood.

Born on September 30, 1968 into a large Fulani family of scholars in the lineage of Thierno Bokar, Thierno stood out at school at an early age for his drawing skills. Since his first participation in exhibitions, workshops, and training beginning in 1986, and his first solo exhibition at the French Cultural Center in Bamako in 1999, Thierno has exhibited his work in Mali and internationally.

Thierno’s work is deeply rooted in the cultures of Mali, using symbolism and alphabets from various Malian cultures. He experiments with a wide range of materials, from recycled objects to natural elements such as wood and coconuts, developing a diversity of images, from figurative to abstract. His often abstract sculptures are characterized by his ‘pixelation’ technique, where geometric lines and squares are used to add a unique layer to his artwork.

A seasoned artist and inventor, Thierno developed the worolan technique, a pigment made from kola nuts, and was awarded the Order of Merit of the Arts of Mali in 2008.

Solo exhibitions

2011

• Galerie Plurielle, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

2009

• Galerie de l’Escalier, Orléans, France

2008

• Galerie de l’Escalier, Orléans, France

2004

• Festival « Visages Francophones, Cahors, France

1999 

• Source et Lumière », Centre Culturel Francais, Bamako, Mali
• Galerie Primitive, Toulouse, France

• Calligraphie et Lithographie à l’âge de la pierre, Paris, France
  

Group exhibitions

2023

• Down to earth, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands

2019

• Bamako Art Gallery, Bamako, Mali

2017

• Exposition au Lac de Lassa, Bamako, Mali

2016

• Rencontre Internationale de Peinture de Ouagadougou (RIPO), Ouagdougou, Burkina

2012

• Artefact, Galerie Medina, Bamako, Mali

2010

• Exposition au Palais de la Culture, Bamako, Mali

2008

• « L’Art et l’Engagement », Journées Mondiales de la Francophonie Liberté, Bamako, Mali
• Marché National des Arts Plastiques (sous le haut patronage du Premier Ministre), Bamako, Mali
• « Africa Now », Bodø Kulturhus/ Galleri Lille Kabelvåg/ Kunstkvarteret Lofoten, Leknes, Norway

2007

• Exposition « À travers l’Afrique », Teater Musikus, Greve, Denmark
• Festival Assilah, Centre Hassan Il des Rencontres Internationales, Assilah, Morocco

2006

• Exposition Forum Social Mondial, Bamako, Mali
• Caravane Bison au Centre Soleil d’Afrique (CSA), Bamako, Mali
• Rencontre Internationale de Peinture de Ouagadougou (RIPO), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

2002

• La rue de l’Artiste », Mémorial Modibo Keita, Bamako, Mali

2001

• 4eme Jeux de la Francophonie, Ottawa, Canada

1986

• Dix peintres pour deux orphelins, Galerie Jamana, Bamako, Mali
  

Artistic Residencies

2023

• Residency at OpenArtExchange for exhibition “Down to earth”

2023

• « Intersection », Résidence de l’Ambassadeur des Pays-Bas, Cotonou, Benin with Julien Degan

2014

• Résidence Chef de Coopération / Conseiller de l’Ambassade des Pays-Bas with Fatouma Atta Akine II

2012

• Résidence Chef de Coopération / Conseiller de l’Ambassade des Pays-Bas with Salia Cissé

2000

• Residence at the Dutch embassy, Bamako, Mali