Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.
Michelangelo
Ousmane Sow, often referred to as the “Auguste Rodin of Senegal,” was an internationally acclaimed sculptor known for his powerful, expressive sculptures depicting African peoples such as the Nuba, Masai, and Zulus. Born in Dakar in 1935, Sow spent much of his life as a physical therapist before fully dedicating himself to sculpture in his 50s. His work, characterized by rough-textured, dynamic figures, gained international attention with his Nuba series in 1987, followed by other African series and a large-scale tableau of the Battle of Little Bighorn.
Sow’s sculptures were showcased at prestigious events like the 1993 Documenta in Germany and the 1999 exhibition on the Pont des Arts in Paris, which attracted millions of visitors. He became the first African artist elected as a foreign associate member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts of the Institut de France in 2013. Sow’s early work was shaped by his knowledge of human anatomy, and he initially used unconventional materials due to financial constraints. Later in his career, he began casting his works in bronze, creating notable pieces like statues of Victor Hugo, Nelson Mandela, and Toussaint L’Ouverture. Sow passed away in Dakar at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy as one of Africa’s most significant sculptors.
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