African Master Carvers: Known and Famous

African Master Carvers: Known and Famous addresses the false assumption that all African artists who created tradition-based art were anonymous, even though few historical artists south of the Sahara are known by name, and biographical data about their training and life is scarce. Through fifteen stellar examples from different cultural regions in West, Central, and Southern Africa, the exhibition explores the lives and works of a select group of master carvers who enjoyed recognition and sometimes even fame during their lifetime. Also included are the artists’ biographies and, when available, their portrait photographs.