Leo Art Gallery

Paintings from all over the world,

rolled up and packed away, have travelled thousands of kilometers with me in overhead bins – to tell their story, in this gallery.

Where is a Malawian to go?

What to choose, what to choose (underneath the skyward-growing roots)

G. Mboma

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When will Eritrea be free?

Junior Lieutenant Lemlem

Merhawit. G.M.

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When you aren’t allowed – but really want to

A Women’s Hammam in Kasbah

Where are these girls looking?

Shiromani

Saidas

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The White Star of Somalia

Self-portrait with henna

Art is protest. Where there’s Gonduana in Africa, is there Gangrene in Europe?

They Called The Wrong Country Gonduana

Awanga

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What is the Nigerian boy dreaming about? And where is his airplane flying to?

Busy Brain

Adeyemy Demola

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What is the difference between propaganda and art? And why did it take so long for this painting to sell?

Propaganda or Art

Emma

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What kind of future lies ahead for Africa?

Child of Africa

Apollinaire Ntwengeye

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What do you need to be successful in Nigeria? It can’t be that easy, can it?

CHIKENA

Dagold

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Sun or Moon? Dawn or dusk?

Princess of the Dawn

Sam

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What was the Chadian woman thinking about?

What’s going on in the picture? Police. Videotaping. Africans with hands tied behind their backs. Perplexing white-skinned people with body parts chopped off? What’s the deal?

Albinos

Charinda

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Life in fishing country flows smoothly, just like the river along which it is placed. In the upper right-hand corner of the picture, a group of people has come to disrupt this peaceful life. What are they accusing the fishers of?

Nets? What for?

Charinda

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European authors try to figure out a woman based on her look and image. Naïve African art allows us to tap into her consciousness. What do we see there?

Mama Tanzania

Charinda

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Why do you kill us? Is there an answer to that question? And why is Namo calling on us, the indifferent ones?

Why do you kill us?

Rostam Zada (Namo)

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A pastor from the Bororo tribe, AKA the Pel, AKA the Mbororo, AKA the Wodaabe, in traditional garb. What are the roots of the unique tradition among nomads in which women choose their husbands?

Pastor of the Pel Bororo

Sham

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Looking at this portrait of a woman, I asked myself: why is the plate partially cropped from the canvas?

Bissagos Woman

Les

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There are no psychologists in Africa. But there are certain questions that only a sorcerer can answer. What are the cowry shells saying? Is it time to release the genies?

A visit to the sorcerer

unknown artist

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Eyes, money. Can we solve the puzzle of this picture?

Whose eyes are these?

Moussa Traore

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A simple car accident at an African bazaar? Or is the artist trying to tell us something?

On this day, luck was not on their side

Kouadio Moussa

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Dances in Africa, unlike in Europe, are not for entertainment. They dance with a specific purpose. But what is that purpose?

A bridal contest in the Fali tribe

Bakilo

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An eagle, snake, crocodile or lion could all devour a man who’s dropped his weapon and is clinging to a flimsy branch. Is there a way out?

Where there’s no way out

A. Santo

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Conversations don’t just take place between living people. Sometimes they can be monologues with those who’ve passed away. What will the mask say?

Conversation with a husband

Zinga

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Bird’s eye view: an unusual perspective. Could this be the view of the God of Corn himself, Yum Kaax?

Mayan Market

Angelina Quic Ixtamer

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All that was used in the making of this tapestry were natural paints, wool from local sheep and centuries of Native American experience. Does this qualify as a true “painting”?

How do you get a pig into a sack?

Luis Jimenez

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How are the dreams of cats different from the dreams of people? Replace the mouse with what you want, and a similar picture arises. Let's dream together with cats?

Cat dreams

Barbara Lavallee

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What’s better than new clothes sewn for you by a loving Mom?

New Kuspuk

Barbara Lavalle

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The language of dance in Africa bears a certain resemblance to the language of naïve art. It seems to me that in this painting, the two languages have merged into one, as the bodies of dancers. Do you agree?

Dance of the Cabo Zouk

Elesiu

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The market is a fundamental element of a given people’s culture, just like music, dance and art. What could be more authentic than that?

Snail Merchant

Isaac Opoku Badu

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Every handicraft is unique. But sometimes they are unique in their purpose, and in the thing being made. What is the Sudanese woman weaving up?

A Woven birish

Hassan Elhdi

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The most striking part of this painting is that it was sewn together. Is that how the artist sees his native Rwanda?

Flip-flop Salesman

Jean Bosco Bakunzi

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What connects the Masai people and Mt. Kilimanjaro? Well, the Masai live at the base of that volcano. Perhaps also the fact that Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain, while the Masai are the tallest people?

Kilimanjaro and the Masai

Imoyo

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Masai warriors and women listen carefully to their leader. What is he saying that’s so important it has their mouths agape in surprise?

To whom do cows belong?

Kiwanuka

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A nude woman bows her head. What’s the nature of her tragedy?

Namaku

Nunim

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A birdhunter from Niger. What story will he tell us?

Eri

Nunim

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Nepalese girls – two of them clearly sisters wearing dresses made with the same linen – have an important task at hand. Is this really worth the brushstrokes of an artist?

Hunting for lice

Keshar Man

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This batik tells the story of a tiger hunt from a time when people lacked firearms and tigers thus had a fighting chance. Did the elephant fear the tiger, by any chance?

Tiger hunt

Shakeel Khan

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Why does a cheerful girl from the Padaung people need rings on her neck?

With Gold Rings Around Her Neck

Tun

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Life in North Korea is not as vibrant as the attire on this bride. What is she holding in her hands and who is the cup meant for?

Bride

Kim

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Paintings are not for sale

A special thanks to the:
SFG Company for developing the site;
to Lisa Yurchenko for translating into Ukrainian;
to Casey Sherman for translating into English.

Collection