Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga
On View September 28, 2023 – October 28, 2023
Acclaimed Congolese artist Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga is set to make his highly-anticipated New York debut with a solo exhibition at Edward Tyler Nahem. The exhibition, entitled "Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga", follows on the heels of his “Ghost of the Present” series, and will showcase nine new paintings, marking a significant moment in the artist's career. The show is scheduled to open to the public on September 28, 2023, and will runthrough October 28, 2023.
Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, born in 1991 in Kinshasa, represents a new, young and courageous group of artists emerging out of Democratic Republic of Congo. Known for his intricate, evocative – even at times provocative - paintings, which explore present-day issues using a distinctively African aesthetic, Kamuanga has been celebrated for his ability to bridge cultural divides while offering insight into the complexities and contradictions of Congolese life within the broader contextual landscape of Africa today. The interplay between the artist’s figures set in an evocative mise en scene invite the viewer to take a walk in a land not so distant from our own, freighted with social complexities particular to contemporary Congolese life. Each canvas is imbued with a palpable sense of history, identity,and cultural evolution.
Gallery owner Edward Tyler Nahem, expressed his excitement about hosting Kamuanga's New York debut: "Not unlike a griot, Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga possesses that rare combination in an artist: pride of origin, deep fealty to history, and the deft and painterly ability to tell a story. We are flattered to provide a platform for the artist in this, his New York debut." Kamuanga's work has been featured in prestigious institutions and exhibitions around the world, from the Saatchi Gallery in London to the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. His ability to integrate a personal set of African iconographic symbols with wide-ranging contemporary themes has captivated audiences and art enthusiasts alike.
In conjunction with the exhibition, a catalog will be published, with a foreword by New York University professor, Manthia Diawara, and an interview by writer and researcher Jean-Sylvain Tshilumba Mukendi, together providing an in-depth exploration of Eddy Kamuanga's artistic journey and his ever evolving "Ghost of the Present" series. The exhibition is in collaboration with October Gallery, London.
Details of the Exhibition:
Title: Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga
Dates: September 28, 2023, through October 28, 2023
Location: Edward Tyler Nahem, 980 Madison Avenue, Floor 3, New York, NY 10075
Gallery Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
About Edward Tyler Nahem:
Edward Tyler Nahem is a renowned New York City gallery with a global presence. Beyond its gallery space, the institution actively engages in major international art fairs, facilitating connections between artists and collectors worldwide. The gallery's program includes an array of influential artists, embodying its commitment to artistic innovation and creativity. These luminaries include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Alexander Calder, Helen Frankenthaler, Keith Haring, Alex Katz, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Mitchell, Robert Rauschenberg, Gerhard Richter, Ed Ruscha, Frank Stella, and Andy Warhol.
For press inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:
Abigail Krasutsky: [email protected] or call: 212-517-2453
For more information about Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga and the upcoming exhibition, please visit
www.edwardtylernahemfineart.com Or our Instagram @edwardtnahemfineart