THONTON KABEYA

(b. 1983 Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Thonton Kabeya captures the essence of African cosmopolitanism through his constructions of contemporary urban life in paint and sculpted canvas. Having travelled across the African continent extensively, living and working as an artist between Senegal, Paris and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kabeya has been settled in Johannesburg since 2014. Kabeya challenges the medium of paint and canvas, pursuing new and experimental ways to create texture, depth and balance of colour. He glues layers of canvas together which he then cuts, carves and sculpts before painting. The works are finished with transfers of ink from newspaper, carefully positioned to indicate the folds of moving fabric, and the application of a deep brown walnut powder (an old method of staining wooden furniture) to render skin, as well as balance the tonality of the work. 

Inspired by Congolese architecture and design, as well as its Rumba dance, Kabeya's practice seeks balance in composition, line and colour. In his three-dimensional work, he creates portraits of people and cities alike: bustling street scenes and tender exchanges between individuals. His recent works have focused on the Rumba, inspired by the culture around this phenomenon. Rumba music and dance originated primarily in Congo, then developed further in Cuba and Colombia, Cuba having an important historical link to Africa through the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The Rumba gained enormous popularity in the rest of the world after Cuban Independence in 1960; it was recently added to UNESCO’s intangible heritage list. 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 

2023   FNB Art Joburg, with Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

          Introspect, Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa

          A Sunny Day, Everard Read Franschhoek, South Africa 

2022   Pasada, Everard Read Johannesburg, South Africa

          La Rumba Rosa 2, Bonne Espérance Gallery, Paris, France

          Galerie Bilembo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

2021   La Rumba Rosa, One Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019   Galerie Bilembo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

2018   ODA Gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa 

2017   ODA Gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa                                                        

2015   Cry Smile Dream, S Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa  

2014   New Voices, Lizamore and Associates Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa  

2010   Médiathèque Woluwe, st Pierre, Bruxelles, Belgium 

          Galerie dialogue, National Museum of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

2009   Métamorphose, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France   

          Métamorphose, Arte kalao galeria, Bilbao, Spain   

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024 Winter Collection, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

        Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

        Dakar Biennale, Dakar, Senegal

        EXPO CHICAGO, with Everard Read, Chicago, USA

2023 Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

        The Other’s Warmth, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

        110 Year Anniversary, Everard Read, London, UK

2022 Spring, group show, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

        UCCLE / Brussels, Belgium

        Winter, Everard Read, London, UK

2021 A Cloud, Gallery 2, Johannesburg, South Africa

        Salon Globalisto, Bonne Esperance Gallery, Paris, France

        Work on Paper, Art Voice Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

        Turbine Art Fair, with One Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2020 Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Eclectica Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa 

2018 Turbine Art Fair, with One Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa   

2017 The Gravity of Things, Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basque Country, Alava, Spain 

2015 FNB Joburg Art Fair, with Bag Factory, Johannesburg, South Africa

2012 Institut Francais of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

2011 International Contemporary Art Fair, Casablanca, Morocco

2008 Vision for Africa, Archelle, Germany

        Midi Libre, Mas de grille, Montpellier, France 

        Rencontres Picha Biennale De Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

        Dakar Biennale (Off Biennale), Gallery LS Senghor, Dakar, Senegal

2007 Yambi, Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art (MAMAC), Liège, Belgium

        Burogest, Business Centre, Namur, Belgium 

        French Institute, Democratic Republic of Congo

2006 Memling Hotel, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

        Belgium Consulate, Democratic Republic of Congo

        National Museum of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

2005 French Institute of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

        National Museum of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

RESIDENCIES & WORKSHOPS

2024 Noldor Artist Residency, Accra, Ghana

2022 Everard Read at Leeu Estates, Franschhoek, South Africa

        Texaf Bilembo, Democratic Republic of Congo

2019 Texaf Bilembo, Democratic Republic of Congo

2014 Thupelo, Prince Albert, South Africa  

2013 Institut Francais of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

2010 Galerie d’art contemporain Workshop, Musée de Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

2009 Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, France 

2008 Village des arts, Sénégal  

2006 The fine art of Kinshasa Workshop, Centre Wallonie Bruxelles, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo 

2003 Ecole de beaux arts, Workshop, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

COLLECTIONS  

University of South Africa Art Collection, Pretoria 

Artium Basque Museum Center of Contemporary Art of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain 

George Forest Art Collection, Lubumbashi 

Sanaa Art Collection, Johannesburg

Erick Vellard Art Collection, Paris 

AWARDS

2024 Ampersand Fellowship Award (Residency), New York, USA

2006 UNIADS Award 

        Belgium Council Award