Jean Baptiste Djeka is a visual artist from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He received his formal training at the “Centre Technique des Arts Appliqués de Bingerville”, in Ivory Coast.  Knowing that formal and classical art training is only one part of an artist’s journey, Djeka spent years learning alongside iconic Ivorian artists such as DIOMANDE, FADAÏRO, AUGUSTIN KASSI et STENKA. In his now over two decade long career, Djeka has exhibited all over the world in solo as well as group exhibitions. His repertoire is widely respected and well anchored in the totality of the West African art scene and he has participated in many artists residencies in Ivory Coast and beyond. 

Djeka entitled his Fine Arts degree thesis “The Esoteric African Heritage”.  In the twenty years since - contemporary art from the African Continent has enjoyed exponential growth across all spheres and curation -  ranging from museums to commercial success, in galleries on the Continent and beyond. The increased interest in contemporary African art is now far from esoteric!  Indeed there is a global and sustained demand for all manner of cultural production from the African Continent and its Diaspora both in historical, contemporary and futuristic contexts. 

The French title of his thesis LE PATRIMOINE ESOTERIQUE AFRICAIN also references the whole framework within which art from the Continent often operates: starting from pre-colonial histories, kingdoms and societal ways of being to the rupture presented by colonialism and the struggles with neo-colonialism in the time since independence of the modern African nation states which do not reflect their pre-colonial realities and the resulting struggle to define a future that is authentic for the peoples that live within these borders. 

Jean Baptiste Djeka is an excellent ambassador for all this incredible complexity and nuance. He chooses to interrogate and anchor this wide heritage in a look back at his own very specific background and history of the Baoulé Kingdom and people which span present day Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana on the West African Coast. Baoulé masks and sculptures have inspired artists throughout history - such as Modigliani, and Djeka the artist  ‘re-appropriates’ his own culture for a wider audience in this show entitled ‘Channeling his Baoulé Ancestors.’. Thus underpinning his powerful repertoire in the idea of dreaming of the past that actually fuels the future! 

Jean Baptiste Djeka often incorporates his own renderings of these masks in works that speak to an aspirational and often almost restless humanity. The masks appear as emotional anchors which balance the demands of hyper modernity with an antiquity that is grand, regal and timeless. 

We are excited to be the first to share  Djeka’s phenomenal talent in Atlanta as he stands at the cusp of what is sure to be an even more impressive trajectory going forward. It is also wonderful that this exhibition is framed by Black History Month in Atlanta.