Edith Mbella Gallery
Madrid, 2010–2015.
After Barcelona, Edith Mbella opened a gallery bearing her name in Madrid. From 2010 to 2015 she brought together tribal art, design and contemporary African art there.
A place in her name
With the Edith Mbella Gallery, the gallerist asserted her own line. Where the Oba African Art Gallery had been founded with a partner, the Madrid gallery was run under her name and reflects her personal eye.
Three fields brought together
- Tribal art: sculptures, masks and ritual objects, continuing the original practice. See tribal art and arts premiers.
- Design: objects and furniture inspired by Africa, between craft and creation. See design and decorative arts.
- Contemporary African art: living artists and emerging scenes. See contemporary African art.
Making these three fields converse was already a way of refusing compartments: ancient art and today’s art belong to the same history.
Madrid, a marketplace and a meeting point
Madrid offered the gallery an audience of Spanish collectors and institutions, and a network of relationships with European professionals. Thematic hangings devoted to statuary, adornment and contemporary art, meetings with collectors and evening presentations punctuated each season.
Next stage: Espace Bolo, in Douala.
Frequently asked questions
Going further
What did the gallery show?
Three fields: tribal art, design and contemporary African art. This plurality is found today in the practice’s areas of expertise.
Does the gallery still exist?
No, it was run from 2010 to 2015, before Edith Mbella settled in Douala.
Next step
A purchase or sale in mind?
Describe your piece in a few lines and attach photographs: the reply is confidential.