Born in 1939, Seyni CAMARA is an African artist whose works travel the world.

Senegalese, originally from Casamance, she lives in a small village lost in the heart of the forest.

It is in Bignona that Seyni works in her tin-roofed house. She is the living legend of her village.

Away from the turmoils of the community, she lives with her family, constantly working since the time when she and her two brothers were initiated into their art by the spirits of the forest. Her life and work are imbued with a mysticism inherent to mischievous spirits and animist practices that characterize village Africa.Indeed, in adolescence, all three were abducted by the spirits of the forest. During this apprenticeship into the mysteries of clay, the entire village decided to sacrifice a few animals to appease the spirits, so that Seyni and her twin brothers would finally return. And according to legend, that was the case…

Since then, Seyni has continuously been sculpting thousands of characters, men, women, and animals of all kinds, giving free rein to her imagination, bringing to life a cosmogony that is uniquely her own. The works of the little potter from Bignona have made their mark. Exhibited in numerous Western modern art museums, presented at the Centre Pompidou in 1989, and at the Venice Biennale in 2001, Seyni CAMARA’s work has gained recognition beyond borders. The reason for this transnational fascination with her art lies in that small part of the spirit that is common to all humans: the sincerity of emotions.

2011
Seyni Camara – Entre los elementos Galerie Kalao, Bilbao – Espagne 2010 Seyni Camara – El vientre de la tierra Galerie Kalao, Bilbao, Espagne

2009
Seyni Camara et Ndoye Douts Galerie Nathalie Fiks, Paris – France

2008
Seyni Camara – Terracotas Galerie Kalao, Bilbao – Espagne

2007
Seyni Camara Galerie Nathalie Fiks, Paris, France

2004
Seyni Camara De Crescenzo & Viesti, Rome – Italy

1990
Seyni Awa Camara Gallery 39 Dakar, Senegal.

2019
AKAA, Galerie Claire Corcia, Paris – France
Africa now I – Galerie Claire Corcia, Paris – France

2016
L’Autre continent, Artistes femmes africaines – Musée du Havre – Camille Morineau – France

2014
Les filles du feu – Galerie Claire Corcia, Paris -France

2013
Senegal, Creation contemporaneo Ciudadela, Pamplona – Espagne

2012
Figure Libre Galerie Nathalie Fiks, Paris – France

2011
Chic Art Fair Galerie Nathalie Fiks, Paris, France

2010
Been Penc Ateliers du Vau, Angers – France

2005
Arts of Africa Grimaldi Forum, Monaco – France
African Art Now : Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection Museum of Fine Art Houston, Houston – USA

2001
Rocca di Umbertide Contemporary Art Center, Italy
Venice Biennale 49th International Art Exhibition, Venise – Italy

2000
Il Ritorno Dei Maghi Orvieto, Italy

1992-1991
Africa Hoy Contemporary Art Cultural Center, Mexico. Groninger Museum, Netherland. The Atlantic Center of Modern Art, Las Palmas de Gran Canary, Spain.

1991
Senegal Otto-Ritcher-Halle. Galerie des Institut Für Auslandsbeziehungen. Landesmuseum, Oldenburger Kunstverein.

1989
Les Magiciens de la Terre Georges Pompidou Center. La Grande Halles de la Villette. Paris, France.

2011
Seyni Awa Camara – Entre los elementos Book + DVD – Galerie Kalao, Spain

2009
Awa Seyni Camara : Le Ventre de la Terre Documentaire, réal. Anna Bataï

2005
African Art Now: Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection Exhibition catalogue. Published by Merrell.

2001
Tribal Soul, Metropolitan Body. Contemporary African Art Edited by : L’Artière. Bilingual text Italian and English p.66-69.
Regine of Africa. Seni Camara by Enrico Mascelloni E Sarenco. Exhibition catalogue. Bilingual text Italian English. P.31-58.

1996
Contemporary Art of Africa. Seni Awa Camara p.54-57, text in English by Louise Bourgeois. Edited by Andre Magnin & Jacques Soulillou. Publisher Harry N. Abraams, New-York.

1994
Solitude d’Argile. Légende autour d’une vie. Seni-Awa Camara’s sculptures. Book, texts in French by Michèle Odeye-Finzi, 60 pages. Edition : L’Harmattan.

1991
Africa Hoy. Centro Atlantico de Arte Moderno. Exhibition catalogue, bilingual text Spanish & English. Seni-Awa Camara, p.67 -71. Las palmas, Gran Canaria.

1989
Les Magiciens de la Terre. Exhibition catalogue, text in French. Georges Pompidou Center, Grande Halle de la Villette. Paris, France.