Following his 2013 graduation from the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Brazzaville (Congo), YvanovitchMbaya pursued art psychology studies at the University of Lomé (Togo). His work with artist Bill Kouélany, the first African woman invited to participate in documenta 12, Kassel 2007, has been ongoing since 2011, concurrent with his academic studies. She has shared her theoretical and practical disciplines of artistic creation with him, offering guidance that has defined and enriched his own visual engagement and work discipline. Professionals were drawn to Mbaya’s distinctive work in 2012 at the first two RIAC (Rencontres Internationales de l’ArtContemporain) events held by Ateliers SAHM in Brazzaville.
He received the GoddyLeye Award for painting and a residency at the Art Bakery in Douala (Cameroon). In 2013, he participated in the Atelier Contraste in Brazzaville, then the FestivalÉtonnants Voyageurs alongside Frantz Zéphirin, one of the premier painters of the Haitian School. Mbaya went on to travel across the continent to conduct research into the sacralization of water in traditional religious rituals and presented examples of these works related to the iconic figure Mami Wata and the broader subject of voodoo at Lomé’s InstitutFrançais in 2014.
In 2015 he decided to set up a studio in Casablanca (Morocco) and since then has participated in important and memorable art events :United Artists (Off 1-54, Marrakesh 2020) is a group show of nearly all major Moroccan contemporary artists, curated by SyhamWeigant. The Day After (Abu Dhabi Art Fair, UAE 2020), curated by renowned Simon Njami, will take place in an unprecedented format due to the ongoing pandemic crisis. Le Pinceau de l’intégration (Fondation SONATEL, Off Biennale Dak’Art 2022) is the first post-corona edition of this major Pan-African Biennale.The Day After (Abu Dhabi Art Fair, UAE 2020), curated by renowned Simon Jami, will take place in an unprecedented format due to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis ; Le Pinceau de l’intégration (Fondation SONATEL, Off Biennale Dak’Art 2022), the first post-Covid edition of this major pan-African Biennial.
EXHIBITIONS
2022 : «GÂTA BANTU» Solo show, CDA Gallery, Casablanca, Maroc
«Pinceau de l’intégration» Off de la 14ème biennale de Dak’art, Sénégal
2021 : 4e Edition R.I.P.O, Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso
« Ngelaw », à la Cité des Arts de Chambéry, France
« Souffles », Arteppes, Annecy, France
2020 : Abou Dhabi Art Fair, UAE
Be Real Black, For Me, Madlozi Art Gallery, Afrique du Sud
Morceaux Choisis, SEPTIÈME Gallery, Paris, France
United Artists, off 1-54, Mövenpick à Marrakesh, Maroc
2019 : Hier est la mémoire d’aujourd’hui, Espace Commines, Paris, France
Lend me your Dream, Thema Galerie, Casablanca, Maroc
Biennale Ségou’ Art, Ségou, Mali
2018 : Bind, Images Contemporaines, OFF Biennale de Dakar, Sénégal
2017 : 12e Édition de la Nuit des Galeries, Casa Del Arte, Casablanca, Maroc
3e Édition Afrika, Casablanca, Maroc
YazKarmasi 17, Ankara, Turquie
2016 : Art ‘Cop 22, Marrakech, Maroc
Festival du Cinéma Africain, Khouribga, Maroc
2ème Arkane Afrika, Casablanca, Maroc
Bind, Images Contemporaines, OFF Biennale de Dakar, Sénégal
2015 : Fête des installations, Fabrique Culturelle des Abattoirs, Casablanca, Maroc
1e édition Afrika, Cathédrale du sacré Coeur, Casablanca, Maroc
2014 : Art pour le développement, Goethe-Institut, Lomé, Togo.
2013 : 2e Édition R.I.A.C, Les Ateliers Sahm, Institut Français, Brazzaville, Congo
Génération Y, Les Ateliers Sahm, Brazzaville, Congo
Festival Etonnants Voyageurs, Les Ateliers Sahm, Brazzaville,Congo
Contraste à Brazza, Les Ateliers Sahm, Brazzaville, Congo
2012 : 1e Edition R.I.A.C, Les Ateliers Sahm, Institut Français, Brazzaville, Congo
RESIDENCES
2015 : Arkane Afrika, Casablanca, Morocco
Center d’art marnay art center (CAMAC), France
2014 : Territoire de Création, Lomé, Togo
2013 :Research and creation residency at Art Bakery, Cameroon
2012 : Les Ateliers Sahm, Brazzaville, Congo
2011 : French Institute, Brazzaville, Congo
AWARDS
2021 :Finalist for the HenrikeGrohs Art Award 2022, Joburg, South Africa
2016 :1st Festiva Prize “Alwan”, International of Fine Arts, Imzouren, Morocco
2012 :2nd GoddyLeye Prize (Painting), R.I.A.C, Les Ateliers Sahm, Brazzaville, Congo
Selected Images
