Woven Monuments: Tapestry and Identity in Senegal @ Bamltimore Museum of Art, États-Unis: Souleymane Keïta
Woven Monuments is the first U.S. museum exhibition in 45 years dedicated to Senegalese tapestries.
Featuring approximately 12 monumental works produced primarily at the state-supported Manufactures sénégalaises des arts décoratifs de Thiès, this exhibition highlights the bold vision and extraordinary craftsmanship of artists Badara Camara, Ansoumana Diédhiou, Théodore Diouf, Bocar Pathé Diong, Khalifa Gueye, Boubacar Goudiaby, Souleymane “Souley” Keïta, Papa Ibra Tall, and Mouhamadou “Zulu” M’baye.
Blending modernist abstraction with scenes from Senegal’s history, daily life, and natural landscapes, these vibrant tapestries reflect the country's efforts to shape a new national identity after independence in 1960. Through themes of artistic innovation, cultural diplomacy, and collaboration, Woven Monuments explores Senegal’s ambitious post-independence investment in the arts and the role of these tapestries as cultural ambassadors, revealing the powerful stories embedded in every thread.
This exhibition is curated by Carlee S. Forbes, Associate Curator of African and Oceanic Art.
