Omar Ba Paints

Born in 1977, Omar Ba is a Senegalese artist renowned for his paintings that employ mixed media to depict scenes of violence and fantasy. He currently resides in Geneva and Dakar and creates artworks that utilize various art techniques and contrasting materials to represent social and political motifs.

Omar Ba studied in Senegal and Switzerland. He attended the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Dakar, where he began his formal art education. His studies in Switzerland commenced in 2005 at the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Geneva. In 2011, he furthered his education at the ECAV—MAPS (Master of Arts in Public Spheres) in Sierre, Switzerland.

During his time in Switzerland, Ba transitioned from typical abstract painting to developing his unique aesthetic. He began creating profoundly personal and political paintings based on his experiences and memories from Dakar and Geneva. His work aims to build a bridge between his African roots and European culture, exploring the histories and policies of the Global North and South while maintaining a contemporary approach.

Omar Ba's work is intentionally open to multiple interpretations, inviting viewers to derive meanings and understandings. His artistic literacy and vocabulary raise essential historical questions while offering contemporary messages. Through his art, he communicates deeply with his audience.

A distinctive feature of Ba's art is its metaphorical references, displaying ancestral figures and hybrid entities. This combination of diverse art elements, fused with his desire to transcend limitations, allows his work to stand out with surreal poetic intensity. He rejects conventional displays, expressing his subconscious mind and his vision of what art should be.

In Ba's paintings, decorative and real-life models fusion to depict a world both real and imaginary. His artistic world is populated with human and animal-like figures surrounded by organic signs, political patterns, geographic symbols, and traditional Senegalese markings. He masterfully mixes oil, crayon, gouache, and Chinese ink, applied delicately on rough surfaces to create texture and depth.

Omar Ba has showcased his work in numerous exhibitions worldwide. His solo exhibition, "Same Dream," toured Canada in 2019, providing a comprehensive look at his signature works. He has also exhibited in venues such as BOZAR in Belgium, Aargauer Kunsthaus in Switzerland, and the Biennale de Dakar in Senegal.