Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga
Edward Tyler Nahem Gallery, New York
September 28th - October 28th, 2023
Acclaimed Congolese artist Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga is set to make his highly-anticipated New York debut with a solo exhibition at Edward Tyler Nahem. "Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga,” follows on the heels of his “Ghost of the Present” series, and will showcase nine new paintings, marking a significant moment in the artist's career. The show will run September 28, 2023 to October 28, 2023.
Born in 1991 in Kinshasa, Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, represents a new, young and courageous group of artists emerging from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Known for his intricate – and at times provocative - paintings, which explore present-day issues – cultural, political, and religious – Kamuanga has been celebrated for his ability to bridge societal divides with broad and deep perspective. Simultaneously, he offers up insight into the complexities and contradictions of Congolese life within the broader contextual landscape of a continent in flux.
The interplay between the artist’s figures, often set in an evocative mise en scene, invites viewers to step into a world not far removed from our own, filled with the social complexities specific to contemporary Congolese life. Each canvas is imbued with a palpable sense of history, identity, and cultural evolution.
Gallery owner Edward Tyler Nahem, expressed his excitement about hosting Kamuanga's New York debut: "Not unlike a griot, Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga possesses that rare combination in an artist: pride of origin, deep fealty to history, and the deft and painterly ability to tell a story. We are flattered to provide a platform for the artist in this, his New York debut."
Kamuanga's work has been featured in prestigious institutions and exhibitions worldwide, from the Saatchi Gallery in London to the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. His ability to integrate a personal set of African iconographic symbols with wide ranging contemporary themes captivates and engages.
In conjunction with the exhibition, a catalog will be published, featuring a foreword by New York University professor Manthia Diawara and an interview by writer and researcher Jean -Sylvain Tshilumba Mukendi. Together, they provide an in-depth exploration of Eddy Kamuanga's artistic journey and his ever-evolving "Ghost of the Present '' series.
The exhibition is in collaboration with October Gallery, London.
https://www.edwardtylernahemfineart.com/