George Lilanga

GEORGE LILANGA (Tanzania, 1934 - 2005).
"Wametembea umbali mrefu mpa kufika hapa sasa lazima tisnape maji wanywe".
Acrylic on tablex.
Signed in the lower right corner and titled on the back.
Measurements: 122 x 122 cm.
George Lilanga, considered one of the most outstanding African artists of the 20th century, was initially trained as a wood sculptor following the artistic tradition of his community of origin, the Makonde people. In 1970 he moved to Dar es Salaam, where he began to integrate into local artistic circles and to consolidate his presence in the city's cultural scene. His first major exhibition took place in 1974 at the National Museum of Tanzania, which contributed decisively to his institutional recognition.
The leap to the international scene came in 1977, when he presented his work at the Marycoll Ossing Center in New York; the following year he participated in a group exhibition in Washington D.C. From that moment on, Lilanga began an extensive series of exhibitions in various countries, reaching a growing projection in Africa as well as in Europe, the United States, India and Japan.
Lilanga's work has been considered especially influential for younger generations of American urban artists. Keith Haring himself acknowledged in an interview that his visual language had been, in part, shaped by the aesthetics and iconography developed by Lilanga.