Abdoulaye Konaté, © The artist
Abdoulaye Konaté, a celebrated Malian artist, is renowned for his large-scale textile installations that blend bold colors and intricate detail to reflect socio-political themes, personal narratives and Mali’s rich craft traditions. Born in Diré, Mali, in 1953, Konaté initially trained as a painter at the Institut National des Arts in Bamako and later in Cuba, where he embraced a multidisciplinary approach. His work is deeply rooted in the West African textile heritage, employing dyed and woven cotton to create monumental tapestries that merge abstraction with figurative storytelling.
Konaté’s art explores complex themes like war, religion, globalization and the AIDS epidemic while paying homage to Mali’s cultural and spiritual traditions. His use of color is both symbolic and evocative, reflecting socio-political commentary and aesthetic mastery. Over four decades, his work has been exhibited globally, including at prestigious venues like the Venice Biennale and Smithsonian Institution and he has received numerous accolades, such as the Léopold Sédar Senghor Prize and France's Chevalier of Arts and Letters. Based in Bamako, Konaté also contributes to arts education as the Founding General Director of the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers Multimedia.