Barthélémy Toguo

Born 1967 in Mbalmayo, Cameroon
Lives and works in Paris, France and Bandjoun, Cameroon

Working across painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, performance and installation, Barthélémy Toguo addresses enduring and immediately relevant issues of borders, exile and displacement. At the core of his practice is the notion of belonging, which stems from his dual French/Cameroonian nationality. Through poetic, hopeful, and often figurative gestures connecting nature with the human body, Toguo foregrounds concerns with both ecological and societal implications. Recently, his works have been informed by political and social movements and humanitarian tragedies including Black Lives Matter and the refugee crisis. In 2008, Toguo founded Bandjoun Station in his native Cameroon to foster contemporary art and culture within the local community.