Diadji Diop

Gloire II

2023

Diadji Diop arrived in France in 1994 with the intention of training as a cartoonist. He discovered the multiple possibilities of sculpture in preparatory classes, which led him to change direction. His passion for cartoons and cinema has always fuelled his work, whether in his choice of realism or in his installations, which are sometimes narrative. He graduated with honours in 2001 and took part in the Exhibition des Félicités in 2002. An artist of international renown, Diadji Diop has left an indelible mark on the art world. In 2009, his presence marked the European Heritage Days at the Elysee Palace. In 2017, his participation in the prestigious Palm Beach ArtFair in Miami drew unanimous acclaim. In 2022, a surprising new monumental work emerged on the roof of the Mikado MJC CS art centre building in Annecy, as part of the Lyon Biennial. Diadji Diop established himself as one of the key figures at the Dakar Biennial in 2018 and 2022, where one of his major pieces, "Naaw Naan", stood out, testifying to his unrivalled talent in contemporary art. His work has been exhibited in a number of prestigious venues, including the Emmanuel Perrotin gallery, La Villette, the Abidjan Visual Arts Festival, the Molitor in Paris and is part of the collection of National Museum of Immigration History in Paris, since 2011. His artistic work explores themes such as identity, exile and violence, using realistic forms to question human relationships. He reveals painful interiorities without ever sinking into pathos, with a combination of humour, strength and sometimes derision. His work is a call for dialogue and sharing, transcending differences of skin colour, borders and hatred.