"My work is a kind of diary in which I try to tell stories about myself and the people around me. My theme is the human condition, focusing on my culture and its masks. My practice is a kind of engaged poetry that challenges and seduces the viewer at the same time. I paint contemporary bodies and faces, but I also give a place to tradition. I see myself as a bridge between these two worlds."
- Obou Gbais
Obou Gbais (born in 1992 in Guiglo, Côte d’Ivoire) is an Ivorian contemporary artist. He trained at the École nationale des Beaux-Arts in Abidjan, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Painting in 2019.
From an early stage, he developed a distinctive visual language. His work is notably characterized by the use of the Dan mask as a central motif, which he reinterprets and transforms over time: from a traditional form, it gradually becomes an inhabited face, marked by expressions and emotional presence.
His practice engages with contemporary urban dynamics in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly the realities of informal settlements. Crowds, precarious architectures, and invisible circulations are recurring elements in his compositions, through which he pays tribute to communities living within these environments. His work also addresses the representation of women and their lived realities, drawing from figures closely connected to his personal history.
Deeply rooted in the urban environment, Obou Gbais develops a practice that extends beyond the canvas. He regularly intervenes in public space—on walls, buildings, and through collaborations involving everyday objects—embedding his work within a logic of direct and accessible circulation. The Dan mask, used both as a visual motif and as a performative element, becomes a recognizable sign, carrying a cultural identity that he deploys across different contexts. This approach, situated between studio practice and public space, resonates with certain aspects of street art.
Alongside painting, he explores other media such as sculpture, design, and music, affirming a multidisciplinary practice. A prolific artist, he continuously develops and evolves his work, as seen in his recent interest in compositions more focused on urban structures and landscapes.
Obou’s work has been featured in several exhibitions in Côte d’Ivoire and internationally, such as at the Museum Rietberg (Zurich, Switzerland) and the Vytautas Kasiulis Museum (Vilnius, Lithuania). He also participated in the group exhibition Murmures d’archives – Sur les traces de Hans Himmelheber at the Musée des Cultures Contemporaines Adama Toungara (MUCAT). Since 2020, his work has been acquired by numerous public and private collections worldwide.
He lives and works in Berlin (Germany).