10 African Arts Exhibitions to see this winter 2025 - Europe
Find the best African Arts and Global South exhibitions to see this February and March 2025 to close winter. From Megan Gabrielle Harris, Obou Gbais to Francis Mampuya, find out the best exhibitions to visit this month
“Only When I’m Dreaming” Megan Gabrielle HARRIS, at OOA x Artcurial - 27 February - 12 March 2025
Glory, Megan Gabrielle HARRIS
Only When I’m Dreaming is the name of Megan Gabrielle HARRIS first solo show in Paris. The highly anticipated show is an exclusive partnership between Gallery Out Of Africa and Artcurial. Following her sellout success at 1-54 London with OOA Gallery in 2024, Megan Gabrielle Harris has solidified her rising prominence on the international art scene. Known for blending surrealism, introspection, and explorations of Black femininity, her dreamlike landscapes and poetic portraits captivate collectors and art enthusiasts alike, establishing her as a versatile and universal creator.
2. “The Power of Love” Obou GBAIS, at Filafriques - 14 February - 29 March 2025
La Vie en Rose, Obou GBAIS
Filafriques debuts The power of love, an exclusive solo show of Obou GBAIS at the gallery new location in Geneva. Celebrating love, care of intimate bonds, the solo show is a sweet escape for the winter while presenting another aspect of Gbais’s unique world.
3. “Dripping Time, Fading Memory” Tegene KUNBI , at Primo Marella Gallery - From 20 February 2025
Carnival, Tegene KUNBI
Primo Marella Gallery in Milan presents Dripping Time, Fading Memory, the latest solo exhibition by Ethiopian artist Tegene KUNBI. Born in 1980 in Ethiopia, Kunbi’s work is characterized by bold oil paintings that merge vibrant colors with rich textures. His palette reflects Ethiopia’s natural beauty—lush greens reminiscent of the landscape, fiery reds and oranges inspired by the land’s clay, and deep blues symbolizing the purity of sky and sea. Kunbi’s paintings go beyond depicting scenery, offering a powerful celebration of Ethiopia’s culture and heritage. Each work affirms the resilience of Ethiopia’s soil and the strength of its people, embodying the dynamic spirit of his homeland.
4. “Les Dévoreuses d’âme” Nyaba Leon OUEDRAOGO solo show at Christophe Person - Until 15 March 2025
Untitled, Nyaba Leon OUEDRAOGO
Galerie Christophe Person presents Les Dévoreuses d’âme (Soul Devourers), a solo exhibition by Nyaba Leon OUEDRAOGO. This thought-provoking series explores the lives of women in Burkina Faso who have been ostracized and accused of witchcraft. These women, shunned by society—often starting with their husbands—are burdened with accusations of possessing supernatural powers and malicious intentions. Through a series of diptychs, OUEDRAOGO seeks to challenge these narratives by presenting the women both in the context of their everyday lives and in an imagined alternative reality. Ultimately, the exhibition raises a critical question: Are these women truly powerful, or is it the weight of rumor and spoken word that defines their fate?
5. “Libriste” Francis MAMPUYA at Angalia - Until 1st March 2025
Un Ange Déchu, Francis MAMPUYA
Galerie Angalia hosts Libriste, a solo show by renowned Congolese artist Francis MAMPUYA, one of the leading figures if the eponymous art movement. Mampuya bursts onto the Kinshasa art scene in 1996, co-founding the Librisme movement as a rejection of the academic constraints of the time. His work, characterizes by semi-figurative and abstract styles, explores themes of injustice, political oppression, and human suffering, while leaving room for hope. The exhibition features 13 works from 2005 to 2024, including notable pieces such as Multiple (2024) and Leader face à l’indignation (2024). Portraits, another central element of Mampuya’s practice, also take center stage.
6. “Femmes”, collective show curated by Pharrell WILLIAMS at Perrotin - 20 March - 19 April 2025
Pharrell Williams is set to curate Femmes, a collective exhibition at Galerie Perrotin in Paris from March 20 to April 19, 2025. The show will feature around 40 artists, many from the African diaspora, exploring themes of the body, memory, and identity.Notable artists include Gaëlle Choisne, Zanele Muholi, Kapwani Kiwanga, Eden Tinto Collins, and Malala Andrialavidrazana. This exhibition continues Pharrell's longstanding collaboration with Galerie Perrotin, which began in 2008 with the Perspective exhibition.
7. “I’m in your hands” - Lakwena MACIVER at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery - Until 29 March 2025
I’m in your hands, Lakwena MACIVER
Mariane Ibrahim Gallery presents I'M IN YOUR HANDS, a solo exhibition by London artist Lakwena MACIVER, opened on January 25, 2025, in Paris. Inspired by African diaspora barbershops as spaces of transformation and solidarity, the show explores masculinity through a female lens. Maciver combines hand-painted typographic and figurative elements with a futuristic twist, honoring cultural traditions and spiritual heritage. Key works include hand-cut portraits symbolizing collective identity and intergenerational storytelling. The exhibition celebrates barbershops as spaces of cultural exchange and critical engagement.
8. “Motherhood” Derrick Ofosu BOATENG at OSCAM - Until 28 February 2025
OSCAM presents a solo exhibition by Derrick Ofosu Boateng, celebrating motherhood. Known for his vibrant depictions of life in Accra, Derrick’s work has long reflected the importance of family, influenced by his father’s teachings of Ashanti proverbs. This exhibition features iconic works that honor the nurturing and spiritual essence of motherhood, portraying it as a force of love and protection transcending the physical world.
9. OSCAM x opening exhibition “What’s the 411:” STRANDS & STRUCTURES curated by Esmeralda Tan at OSCAM - Until 28 February 2025
WHAT’S THE 411 curated by Esmeralda Tan presents: STRANDS & STRUCTURES a groundbreaking photo-documentary exhibition by Multidisciplinary Hair Artist Asia Clarke and Creative Director/Photographer Christian Saint. STRANDS & STRUCTURES delves into the intersection of our hair and bodies within Accra’s Anthropocene.
10. “Mango Man”, at 193 Gallery x TAK Contemporary - Until 22 March 2025
193 Gallery, in collaboration with TAK Contemporary, presents Mango Man, its inaugural 2025 exhibition featuring seven Indian artists debuting in Paris. The show explores the concept of the "Common Man" (Aam Aadmi) in Indian society, highlighting issues of class, caste, religion, and systemic discrimination. Through 20 artworks—including paintings, sculptures, mixed media, and installations—the exhibition addresses critical themes like food politics, caste, urban migration, and the human-nature conflict. Mango Man offers a nuanced critique of Indian socio-political dynamics through diverse artistic expressions.
