ECLECTICA CONTEMPORARY
Eclectica Contemporary seeks to present a carefully selected collection of art from the continent that interrogates the issues facing humanity in a globalized world. Works in its exhibitions often showcase practices and materials from art history while pushing the boundaries of both and exploring uncharted territories of representation, technique and theory. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Eclectica Contemporary sees itself as an African gallery with an international vision. It celebrates the diversity and depth of the art scene in Africa while aiming to contextualize the attendant works for a growing global market. Its exhibition programme features a mix of solo shows by gallery artists alongside curated group shows.
VISIT GALLERY ON ARTSY ︎︎︎
ARTISTS
IAN BANJA
IBRAHIM KHATAB
NEDIA WERE
WILLIAMS CHECHET
IBRAHIM KHATAB
NEDIA WERE
WILLIAMS CHECHET
IAN BANJA
Ian Banja was born and raised in Nairobi Kenya. A self-taught artist, he is fascinated by the close examination of ordinary objects, especially in unusual contexts. His work typically features upbeat street style paired with detailed technical and aesthetic considerations.
In his Struggles series, he tries to express everyday tussles he witnesses, creating worlds within worlds through painting small windows as clues into his inner psyche. Work by the young artist has been sold at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair and at the FNB Art Joburg. He has also been featured on Artsy's “African Artists on the Rise” list as well as in the FNB feature curated by Fashion Designer Lezanne Vivviers.
In his Struggles series, he tries to express everyday tussles he witnesses, creating worlds within worlds through painting small windows as clues into his inner psyche. Work by the young artist has been sold at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair and at the FNB Art Joburg. He has also been featured on Artsy's “African Artists on the Rise” list as well as in the FNB feature curated by Fashion Designer Lezanne Vivviers.
IBRAHIM KHATAB
Ibrahim Khatab has had his work presented in several group shows and solo exhibitions from Sweden to South Africa to Oman. He has regularly participated in the annual Youth Salon in Egypt and has led many workshops at the Visual Arts Centre, Oman; the Fine Arts Association, Doha and the Sharjah Children Biennale. He has been awarded various prizes for his work. In 2018, he obtained a PhD from Cairo University.
Khatab works as a co-teacher at Cairo University. His early experience making art that appeared on the streets of Cairo ignited his passion for Arabic calligraphy and continues to influence his work.
Khatab works as a co-teacher at Cairo University. His early experience making art that appeared on the streets of Cairo ignited his passion for Arabic calligraphy and continues to influence his work.
NEDIA WERE
Born and raised in Kenya, self-taught artist Nedia Were lives and works in his country’s capital city, Nairobi. He won the 2017 Manjano Art Competition and has participated in several local and international exhibitions.
Were’s work, primarily in oil painting and portraiture, is a visual response to the discourse surrounding representation of African figures in art, especially in learning institutions and in art history. He interrogates traditional notions of beauty and challenges western ideas of modern beauty, with a specific focus on their representation in figurative paintings and portraiture. Were reimagines art history by placing his subjects in positive natural environments.
Were’s work, primarily in oil painting and portraiture, is a visual response to the discourse surrounding representation of African figures in art, especially in learning institutions and in art history. He interrogates traditional notions of beauty and challenges western ideas of modern beauty, with a specific focus on their representation in figurative paintings and portraiture. Were reimagines art history by placing his subjects in positive natural environments.
WILLIAMS CHECHET
Williams Chechet is a visual artist based in Nigeria, he is interested in popular images, focusing on cultural iconography of African society through a Pop Art lens. He studied Industrial Design at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Nigeria, and was a 2018 finalist for the Access Bank ART X Prize.
His work pays homage to the pop art movement of the 1960s, with references to artists such as Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat. In his Royal Niger series, Williams layers facial features of past Nigerian presidents alongside cartoon text—an ode to Roy Lichtenstein. His work has been exhibited in the US, the UK, South Africa and Morocco.
His work pays homage to the pop art movement of the 1960s, with references to artists such as Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat. In his Royal Niger series, Williams layers facial features of past Nigerian presidents alongside cartoon text—an ode to Roy Lichtenstein. His work has been exhibited in the US, the UK, South Africa and Morocco.
