Chéri Samba

Biography

Chéri Samba, full name Samba wa Mbimba Nzingo Nuni Masi Ndo Mbasi, was born on December 30, 1956 in the city of Kintomvila in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a Congolese artist and cultural figure whose work is recognized as among the most significant in contemporary African art. Samba's paintings are included in the collections of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Additionally, a substantial part of his works is held in the collection of contemporary African art owned by Jean Pigozzi. In 2007, Chéri Samba was invited to participate in the Venice Biennale. His paintings frequently incorporate texts in French and Lingala that address life in Africa and issues facing the modern world. Currently, he lives and works alternately in Kinshasa and Paris.