Sesse Elangwe

Biography

Sesse Elangwe (b. 1994, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon) is a self-taught artist whose painting blends his African heritage with 20th-century art movements such as cubism, expressionism, and pop art. Originally from the South West region of Cameroon, his passion for drawing emerged at a young age. In 2013, he organized his first exhibition, WHAT ABOUT US, in Buéa, Cameroon, marking the beginning of his artistic career.

Elangwe's work explores the journeys of black communities, depicting the social realities they face, both in Africa and the United States, as well as elsewhere. His style, both realistic and vibrant, highlights the beauty of black skin and emphasizes the strength of his subjects’ facial expressions. A signature element of his painting is the representation of an oversized eye, a recurring motif that encourages the viewer to observe their surroundings critically and challenge preconceived notions. The artist also employs abstract backgrounds, playing with light and the absence of depth to create a sense of universality.

Now based in San Antonio, Texas, Elangwe’s work is increasingly recognized on the international art scene and has been exhibited at prestigious institutions such as the Cameron Art Museum (North Carolina), the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit, Michigan), the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (Philippines), Kunsthal KAdE (The Netherlands), among others. His paintings are held in numerous prominent private and institutional collections, including the Museum of Fine Arts of Houston, the Green Family Art Foundation (Dallas, Texas), W Art Foundation (Shanghai, China), Xitang Foundation (Beijing, China), Lester Marks Collection (Houston, Texas), Schulting Collection (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Pamela Hornik Collection (Palo Alto, California), Tim Tan Collection (Manila, Philippines), Casauccelo Collection (Manila, Philippines), Marcus Tan Ser Lay (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), and the CCH Pounder-Kônê Collection, among others.

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Works