artists
MEDERIC TURAY
Mederic Turay (b. 1979, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, lives and works in Marrakech, Morocco) is a multidisciplinary storyteller who lives his art as a privilege and uses a plurality of techniques to create entities, sometimes figurative, sometimes abstract, which become the protagonists of his graphic stories. Turay was raised in the United States in the 1990s, where he was introduced to hip hop music, graphic novels, and the works of Picasso, Van Gogh, and Basquiat. He returned to the Ivory Coast as an adult to pursue his art education, and travelled widely in Africa in search of source materials and inspiration. Turay’s incandescent, vast canvases stage beguiling storylines of his global background and represent his effort to distill, through the performative physicality of painting, the essence of the contemporary human experience in our transactional, post-colonial society.
Turay’s concept of “human with a capital H” is one that transcends racial, geographic and socio-political stereotypes. A descendant of the noble Akan people of West Africa, Turay also seeks to connect with his heritage by appropriating motifs such as ancestral masks and spiritual symbols.
The balance of life forces, symbolized by two complementary forms: the cross and the spiral, in a way his yin and his yang. The spiral, round and infinite, refers to the movement of the cosmos, the dynamism, the creative fertility. Conversely, the cross, rigid in straightness, symbolizes anchoring, stability and material concretization.
Turay’s concept of “human with a capital H” is one that transcends racial, geographic and socio-political stereotypes. A descendant of the noble Akan people of West Africa, Turay also seeks to connect with his heritage by appropriating motifs such as ancestral masks and spiritual symbols.
The balance of life forces, symbolized by two complementary forms: the cross and the spiral, in a way his yin and his yang. The spiral, round and infinite, refers to the movement of the cosmos, the dynamism, the creative fertility. Conversely, the cross, rigid in straightness, symbolizes anchoring, stability and material concretization.
It is most often in the eyes of his characters that he inserts these cosmogonic symbols. For him, balance in duality leads to happiness. Turay’s multi-media surfaces pulsate with an eclectic, raw energy. His new body of work is more abstract and introspective, assembling coarse coffee grinds, sumptuous oil and acrylic brushstrokes, and locally sourced pigments to create a multisensory, cacophonous experience of depth. His images are so cosmic in scope that they require viewers to suspend their imagination to explore their nuanced juxtaposition of many contrasting energies. The temptation to decode Turay’s complex and voluminous sampling of inherited traditions and new forms leads to a meditative plunge into his polyphonic story of existence. These images document his quest of truth seeking and urgently proclaim the power and necessity of painting in this global, mass media age.
Solo Exhibitions
2O24 Solo show ( Visions unveiled) moscow Triumph Gallery
2O24 Sing Me A Story, solo show, Fondation Donwahi, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2O23 Inspirational dreams, solo show O.O.A gallery, Spain
2O22 Eclosion Memorielle exposition Marrakesh Morocco
2021 Abandoned Memories, Bloom Galerie, Geneva, Switzerland
2019 Atlas of a Shaman Aedo, Giovanni Bonelli, Milan, Italy
2019 ItineraryofaStoryTeller, GaleriedesBains, Geneva, Switzerland
2018 AfricanDandy, Gallery O.O.A. Gallery out of Africa, Barcelona, Spain 2017 Chelsea Football Club for NIKE, London, United Kingdom
2017 African Dreamer, Galerie38, Casablanca, Morocco
2016 AIR PORT VIP LOUNGE, Donwahi Foundation, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 2015 Unlimited Morocco, BCK Gallery, Marrakesh, Morocco
2015 African Artis Beautiful, Cherkaoui Foundation, Tangier, Morocco
2014 Liberation unmasked, Gallery Sulger BuelLovell, London, United Kingdom 2014 Traces of Humanity, Gallery Out of Africa, Barcelona, Spain
2013 Centre Culturel Français, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2012 Art and integration in Africa Sea Plaza, Dakar, Senegal
2010 Je viens delà, Cergy-Pontoise, France
2009 La Croix Rouge, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2006 Mirroir, Sofitel, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Group Exhibitions
2O24 Editions Art Fair RARARES Gallery / Dubai UAE
2O24 Moderne Art Fair Upside Down RARARES Gallery / Paris France
2O24 The Eight continent Group Show Gallery / Windsor / Lagos Nigeria
2O24 Groupe show biennale de Dakar list 10 Gallery / Senegal
2O24 Groupe show ( Africa Tunes Re-Edit 1 ) list 10 Gallery / The project Space Pietrasanta / Italy 2O24 Art Central Hong kong
2O24 World Youth Festival Sochi Russia
2O24 Investec, Cape town ART FAIR, South Africa
2O24 Africa Tunes, The project space, Pietrasanta, Lis10, Italy
2O23 Museum of brut Art in Kazan Moscow
2O23 State of africa group show lagos Nigeria Windsor Gallery
2O23 The central Hall Museum saint Petersburg Russia group show
2023 Volta Art fair New York
2O23 Art Madrid Spain, Feria De Arte
2O22 Topologie du bonheur Biennale de Lyon OFF France
2022 Africa rises in Fall London OOA gallery Daapah Gallery
2021 West Bund Art Fair, Bloom Galerie & HDM Gallery, Beijing, China 2020 Prête-Moiton Rêve, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2020 Art Miami, FL, USA
2019 Vision Art Festival, Crans-Montana, Switzerland
2019 Enfants Soldat, Drouot, Paris, Fr
2019 URBAN ART FAIR Paris, France
2019 Verona Art Fair, Italy
2017 ARTX Lagos, Nigeria
2017 AKAA Paris, France
2017 Street Art Project Museum Murcia Barcelona, Spain
2017 Mural Museum Mohamed 6, Morocco
2017 Rabat “Afrique en capital”, Morocco
2017 Commissioned Tramway, Morocco
2016 Marrakech biennale, Morocco
2016 International Contemporary Art Fair Lyon / Art3F, France
2015 International Contemporary Art Fair Mulhouse / Art3F, France 2015 International Contemporary Art Fair Paris / Art3F, FRANCE
2015 International Contemporary Art Fair Bordeaux / Art3F, France 2015 International Contemporary Art Fair Nice / Art3F, France
2014 Commissioned Mural Barcelona-Sitges, Spain
2013 Auction Sales “Fondation Eboué Emanuel “, Ivory Coast
2013 Auction sales for the “Fondation Didier Drogba”, Ivory Coast
Education
2005 : Atelier International – Abidjan, Ivory Coast – Paris, France
2003 : Académie des Beaux-Arts – INSAAC - Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2001 : Centre Techniquedes Arts Appliqués de Binger ville - Abidjan, Ivory Coast 1999 : Centre Technique des Arts Appliqués de Binger ville (CTAA)
1994 : Lycée Rochambeau Washington D.C.
1984 : Lycée Rochambeau Washington D.C.
Artistic Residencies
2023 : OOA GALLERY – Barcelona, Spain
2019 : Crans Montana - Genève Suisse
2017 : Galerie 38 – Casablanca,Morocco
2015 : Villade France – Tanger, Morocco
2015 : Fondation Donwahi – Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2015 : Caravan Serai – Marrakech,
2015 : Matisseroom - Villade France – Tanger, Morocco
Private and Institutional Collections
Charles Saatchi – London, UK
Ethan Cohen - New York, USA
S.M. Le Roi du Maroc Mohamed VI, Museum Mohamed VI
Cécilia Sarkozy – Paris, France
Richard Attias - France
Fondation Donwhai
Collection Nike / UK
Collection Moh Damush UK / Liban
Neeb Collection USA
Collection Yerim Sow Dakar
Collection societe general / Ivory coast
Didier Drogba Foundation – Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Fondation Donwahi – Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Francisco Hernandez – Murcia Street Art Project – Murcia, Spain Kyo Noir Collection - Italy
Dubai Private Collection - Dubai
Fondation Banque Populaire – Morocco
Collection Niarchos – Switzerland
Solo Exhibitions
2O24 Solo show ( Visions unveiled) moscow Triumph Gallery
2O24 Sing Me A Story, solo show, Fondation Donwahi, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2O23 Inspirational dreams, solo show O.O.A gallery, Spain
2O22 Eclosion Memorielle exposition Marrakesh Morocco
2021 Abandoned Memories, Bloom Galerie, Geneva, Switzerland
2019 Atlas of a Shaman Aedo, Giovanni Bonelli, Milan, Italy
2019 ItineraryofaStoryTeller, GaleriedesBains, Geneva, Switzerland
2018 AfricanDandy, Gallery O.O.A. Gallery out of Africa, Barcelona, Spain 2017 Chelsea Football Club for NIKE, London, United Kingdom
2017 African Dreamer, Galerie38, Casablanca, Morocco
2016 AIR PORT VIP LOUNGE, Donwahi Foundation, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 2015 Unlimited Morocco, BCK Gallery, Marrakesh, Morocco
2015 African Artis Beautiful, Cherkaoui Foundation, Tangier, Morocco
2014 Liberation unmasked, Gallery Sulger BuelLovell, London, United Kingdom 2014 Traces of Humanity, Gallery Out of Africa, Barcelona, Spain
2013 Centre Culturel Français, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2012 Art and integration in Africa Sea Plaza, Dakar, Senegal
2010 Je viens delà, Cergy-Pontoise, France
2009 La Croix Rouge, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2006 Mirroir, Sofitel, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Group Exhibitions
2O24 Editions Art Fair RARARES Gallery / Dubai UAE
2O24 Moderne Art Fair Upside Down RARARES Gallery / Paris France
2O24 The Eight continent Group Show Gallery / Windsor / Lagos Nigeria
2O24 Groupe show biennale de Dakar list 10 Gallery / Senegal
2O24 Groupe show ( Africa Tunes Re-Edit 1 ) list 10 Gallery / The project Space Pietrasanta / Italy 2O24 Art Central Hong kong
2O24 World Youth Festival Sochi Russia
2O24 Investec, Cape town ART FAIR, South Africa
2O24 Africa Tunes, The project space, Pietrasanta, Lis10, Italy
2O23 Museum of brut Art in Kazan Moscow
2O23 State of africa group show lagos Nigeria Windsor Gallery
2O23 The central Hall Museum saint Petersburg Russia group show
2023 Volta Art fair New York
2O23 Art Madrid Spain, Feria De Arte
2O22 Topologie du bonheur Biennale de Lyon OFF France
2022 Africa rises in Fall London OOA gallery Daapah Gallery
2021 West Bund Art Fair, Bloom Galerie & HDM Gallery, Beijing, China 2020 Prête-Moiton Rêve, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2020 Art Miami, FL, USA
2019 Vision Art Festival, Crans-Montana, Switzerland
2019 Enfants Soldat, Drouot, Paris, Fr
2019 URBAN ART FAIR Paris, France
2019 Verona Art Fair, Italy
2017 ARTX Lagos, Nigeria
2017 AKAA Paris, France
2017 Street Art Project Museum Murcia Barcelona, Spain
2017 Mural Museum Mohamed 6, Morocco
2017 Rabat “Afrique en capital”, Morocco
2017 Commissioned Tramway, Morocco
2016 Marrakech biennale, Morocco
2016 International Contemporary Art Fair Lyon / Art3F, France
2015 International Contemporary Art Fair Mulhouse / Art3F, France 2015 International Contemporary Art Fair Paris / Art3F, FRANCE
2015 International Contemporary Art Fair Bordeaux / Art3F, France 2015 International Contemporary Art Fair Nice / Art3F, France
2014 Commissioned Mural Barcelona-Sitges, Spain
2013 Auction Sales “Fondation Eboué Emanuel “, Ivory Coast
2013 Auction sales for the “Fondation Didier Drogba”, Ivory Coast
Education
2005 : Atelier International – Abidjan, Ivory Coast – Paris, France
2003 : Académie des Beaux-Arts – INSAAC - Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2001 : Centre Techniquedes Arts Appliqués de Binger ville - Abidjan, Ivory Coast 1999 : Centre Technique des Arts Appliqués de Binger ville (CTAA)
1994 : Lycée Rochambeau Washington D.C.
1984 : Lycée Rochambeau Washington D.C.
Artistic Residencies
2023 : OOA GALLERY – Barcelona, Spain
2019 : Crans Montana - Genève Suisse
2017 : Galerie 38 – Casablanca,Morocco
2015 : Villade France – Tanger, Morocco
2015 : Fondation Donwahi – Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2015 : Caravan Serai – Marrakech,
2015 : Matisseroom - Villade France – Tanger, Morocco
Private and Institutional Collections
Charles Saatchi – London, UK
Ethan Cohen - New York, USA
S.M. Le Roi du Maroc Mohamed VI, Museum Mohamed VI
Cécilia Sarkozy – Paris, France
Richard Attias - France
Fondation Donwhai
Collection Nike / UK
Collection Moh Damush UK / Liban
Neeb Collection USA
Collection Yerim Sow Dakar
Collection societe general / Ivory coast
Didier Drogba Foundation – Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Fondation Donwahi – Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Francisco Hernandez – Murcia Street Art Project – Murcia, Spain Kyo Noir Collection - Italy
Dubai Private Collection - Dubai
Fondation Banque Populaire – Morocco
Collection Niarchos – Switzerland
Artist's works