The Jean Pigozzi African Art Collection

JP Mika

© Angalia

Born in 1980, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Lives and works in Kinshasa

JP Mika took an early interest in drawing and ornamentation and attended the painting department of the Kinshasa Academy of Fine Art. He also went to ARAP, The Popular Art Research Studio created by the artist Chéri Chérin who later became his “Master”. There, he improved his skills and became a member of APPO, The Popular Painters Society. In 2004, he established his own Studio and named it EBA, The Fine Arts Events. He is an outstanding draftsman and he has long borrowed the themes and compositions of his elders and his mentor Chéri Chérin. As Chéri Samba before him, Mika puts himself on stage in his works, painting self portraits or adding himself in group composition - most of the time dressed as a “sapeur” (group of well-dressed men). For the last couple of years, he has develop his own style concentrated on portraits and simplifying his composition by using colourful fabrics that he uses as a background. This “finding” and the perfect use of colour provides a positive energy to his work and that now profoundly stands out from his peers. His very realistic paintings are nevertheless benevolent and whatever the subject, he gently and kindly paints a modern, dynamic and happy Africa.

EXHIBITIONS

2020

Alpha Crucis, Astrup Fearnley Museet, Oslo, Norway (01.22 to 09.30 2020)

2019

Bisengo, MAGNIN-A, Paris, France

Congo Stars, Kunsthalle Tübingen, Germany

2018

Congo Stars, Kunsthaus Graz, Austria

African Passions, Cadaval Palace, Evora, Portugal

2017

Malick Sidibé, Mali Twist, Cartier Foundation, Paris, France

2016

The Great Animal Orchestra, Fondation Cartier Paris, France

2015

1:54, Contemporary African Art Fair, New-York, USA

Art Genève, galerie Magnin-a, Geneva, Switzerland

Beauté Congo - Congo Kitoko, Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris - France

JP Mika !, Centre Culturel TEXAF-BILEMBO, Kinshasa, Congo

2013

Kin-Babi, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

J-P Mika, Moke Fils et Alfi Alfa, GAC, Lubumbashi, DRC

Réalismes de la vie moderne tragico-comique chachacha, GAC Fondation Rachel Forrest, Katanga, DRC

Kin Na Madrid, Edith Mbella Gallery, Madrid, Spain

2012

J-P Mika, Chéri Chérin, Freddy Mutombo et Francis Mampuya, Galerie Out of Africa, Benasque, Spain

2011

Kin Moto Na, Anvers, Belgium

2010

Exhibition organized by UNMACC pour la journée internationale de lutte anti mines à l’hôtel Memling de Kinshasa.

Symphonie des arts à Kinshasa, For the 50th anniversary of the independence of DRC

5th Festival Socio Culturel de la Tshangu, Kinshasa, DRC

AFRICA Time, New York, USA

2009

J-P Mika, Chéri Samba, Chéri Chérin, Rhode Makoumbu, et Tonton Kabeya, Galerie Kalao, Bilbao., Spain

3rd Festival Socio Culturel de la Tshangu, Kinshasa, DRC

Salon d’art contemporain Africain, Espace Pierre Cardin, Paris, France

Galerie Artitude, Paris, France

49 ans de l’indépendance, Kinshasa

2008

Como esta africa ?, Bilbao, Spain

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2015

Congo Stars (catalogue), Buchhandlung Walther König

Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko, Fondation Cartier, Exhibition catalogue