Frédéric Bruly Bouabré

"Introduction to Frédéric Bruly Bouabré"

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré (1923 – 2014) was an Ivorian artist and writer, a singular figure in contemporary African art. His most famous work is the "Encyclopedia Africana," composed of thousands of drawings on small cards made with colored pencils and ballpoint pen. Each card depicts a symbol or myth from the Bété culture. Bouabré employed a naïve, immediate, and graphic style, and his own Bété alphabet of 448 pictograms (which he created). His art is an act of cultural preservation and the transmission of ancestral knowledge.

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré - Galleria Antonio Damiani

Biography of Frédéric Bruly Bouabré

"Introduction to Frédéric Bruly Bouabré"

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré (1923 – 2014) was an Ivorian artist and writer, a singular figure in contemporary African art. His most famous work is the "Encyclopedia Africana," composed of thousands of drawings on small cards made with colored pencils and ballpoint pen. Each card depicts a symbol or myth from the Bété culture. Bouabré employed a naïve, immediate, and graphic style, and his own Bété alphabet of 448 pictograms (which he created). His art is an act of cultural preservation and the transmission of ancestral knowledge.

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré in the museums of the world

MoMA – Museum of Modern Art, New York

Centre Pompidou, Paris

Museum of Brut Art, Lausanne

Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of African Art, Washington DC

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

Exhibition Palace, Lucca

MAGNIN‑A, Paris (André Magnin collection)

Regional Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art – RISO, Palermo

Champollion Museum, Figeac

Musée des Civilizations de Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan

Solo and group exhibitions

Cosmogonies, RICE – Palermo (2023)

Invincible Summer, Ever Gold [Projects], San Francisco (2021)

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré, Tate Modern, London (2010)

Collection de l'Art Brut, Lausanne (2010)

Magiciens de la Terre, Center Pompidou, Paris (1989)

Documenta XI, Kassel (2002)

Africa Remix, Paris/London/Tokyo (2004–2007)

Venice Biennale, Ivory Coast Pavilion (1995, 2013)

World Unbound, MoMA, New York (2022)

Galleria Antonio Damiani is proud to present the work of Frédéric Bruly Bouabré, master of word-iconography and custodian of Bété's cultural memory. With his pictorial writing and universal alphabet, Bouabré teaches us that art can become a bridge between cultures, a custodian of timeless stories and languages, reaffirming the role of artwork as a living testimony of human consciousness.

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré: Market Analysis, Style, and Value of Visionary Documentation

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré is internationally recognized as a conceptual and visionary artist, the inventor of a unique syllabary (the Alphabet Bété) designed to preserve African knowledge. His work consists of thousands of small pen and pastel drawings, often on recycled cardboard. These drawings are not simple images, but veritable visual encyclopedias that document history, dreams, culture, and universal knowledge, with the aim of saving the world from oblivion.

Value Drivers: Language Suites and the Encyclopedic Vision

The most valuable works are the large suites or panels of drawings, which, due to their serial and organized nature, represent the most significant moments of his linguistic and encyclopedic project. Particularly sought-after are the series illustrating his Bété syllabary and those documenting historical events or cultural phenomena. The integrity and completeness of the series are crucial to their valuation.

Authenticity and Guarantees: Specialized Provenance Verification

Given the enormous volume of works produced, authenticity and proper cataloguing are essential. Galleria Damiani only deals with works with impeccable provenance from galleries and leading collections. Security is guaranteed by comprehensive documentation certifying the work's inclusion in the artist's vast conceptual project, often certified by international experts in contemporary African art and Art Brut.

From Specialist Consulting to Sales

From System Analysis to Correct Quotation: Bouabré's market is unique, and appraisal requires a thorough understanding of its linguistic system and the context of the work. To obtain an expert and confidential appraisal of his works or to request advice on your investment:

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