Cover image: 
3 jeunes filles en fleur (detail)
I. Gandema
Bronze
© Entrée to Black Paris

On May 16, I left the 1 km radius of my home for the first time since the beginning of the first phase of deconfinement.

My destination was the Elixir d'Afrique exhibition mounted by La Galerie Africaine.

Aude Minart has operated this itinerant contemporary art gallery for many years.  She works with incredible artists and has curated many shows about which I have written in this blog*. 

Aude has selected a new venue for Elixir d'Afrique - a lovely space at 26, rue des Batignolles in the 17th arrondissement. 

La Galerie Africaine Itinerant Exhibition Space
© Entrée to Black Paris

View of La Galerie Africaine Itinerant Exhibition Space from Window
© Entrée to Black Paris

As usual, she has selected a mix of paintings and works on paper, sculpture, masks, fabrics, and jewelry for display.

Paintings and sculptures
© Entrée to Black Paris

Baoulé Mask
© Entrée to Black Paris

Paintings and work on paper
© Entrée to Black Paris

Fabrics
© Entrée to Black Paris

Jewelry
© Entrée to Black Paris

There are a couple of new artists in the mix.

Fatou Rouissi has created lovely works from children's clothing:

Flowered Heads
© Fatou Rouissi
Assembly of small woolen dress, flowers, resin and paint
Image courtesy of La Galerie Africaine

I. Gandema created these lost wax bronzes of females holding a flower or a vessel.

3 jeunes filles en fleur
I. Gandema
Bronze
© Entrée to Black Paris

3 jeunes filles en fleur (detail)
I. Gandema
Bronze
© Entrée to Black Paris

Beaded dolls are always part of Aude's exhibitions...

Beaded dolls
© Entrée to Black Paris

and she is particularly proud of this Namji doll from Cameroon.

Namji doll
Wood, beads, and leather
© Entrée to Black Paris

This bronze cube by H. Yameogo is extraordinary!

L'Arbre du voyageur
H. Yameogo
Bronze, 16 cm x 16 cm x 16 cm
© Entrée to Black Paris

In case you're wondering about social distancing in the gallery space, Aude is making masks, gloves, and hand sanitizing gel available to visitors.

Masks, gloves, and hand sanitizing gel
© Entrée to Black Paris

There is a grassy courtyard at the rear of the exhibition space where you can go if more than 10 people are visiting at the same time.

Grassy courtyard behind exhibition space
© Entrée to Black Paris

View of exhibition space from courtyard
© Entrée to Black Paris

Elixir d'Afrique is on display through June 1, 2020.  The exhibition is open from 11 AM to 7 PM daily and by appointment. 

View images of individual works HERE.

Contact Aude at audeminart@hotmail.com or phone her at 06.60.24.06.26.

*Read posts about three previous La Galerie Africaine exhibitions here:

African Stories
A Breath of Africa
Africa Unmasked