Momodou Ceesay (born 1945) is a Gambian visual artist and author.
Early life Momodou Ceesay was born in 1945, in Banjul, Gambia. Ceesay's early education was in Banjul, followed by scholarships and academic studies at Suffield Academy and Wesleyan University, Connecticut (USA). In 1970, he received a bachelor's degree with majors in languages and literature.The Mojo Gallery He continued his studies in France at the University of Poitiers and La Sorbonne. For his studies of the French language, Ceesay received diplomas from each of these universities.
Career After graduation, Ceesay decided to become an artist. Essentially self-taught, he creates acrylics, watercolors, and serigraphs. In his printmaking, Momodou produces small editions by hand, without a mechanized studio. One of his earlier serigraphs entitled "Evening Works" was selected by UNICEF as one of their 1976 designs.
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions Goethe Institute, Lagos, Nigeria La Gruta Galeria, Bogota, Colombia National Museum of History, Teipei, Taiwan Theatre National Sorano, Dakar, Senegal University of Massachusetts Library, Boston Galerija Likovnih Samorastnikov, Trebnje, Slovenia Ille-lfe Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Group exhibitions Gallery of Art, Howard University, Washington, D.C. Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand Studio Museum in Harlem, New York City, New York ISC Art Gallery, UCLA, Los Angeles, California International Biennial of Color Graphics, Switzerland Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles, California Golden State Mutual Insurance Company, Los Angeles, California National Center for Afro-American Artists, Boston "Africa Now!", World Bank, Washington, D.C. (2007–09)http://go.worldbank.org/OTUMNK93F0 "Voices of Courage", Freedom To Create Prize Exhibition (2010) Mojo Gallery, Dubai (2011): "As It Is! Contemporary Art from Africa & the Diaspora"
Bibliography Books and articles about Momodou Ceesay Donahue, Benedict. "The Cultural Arts of Africa", Washington, D.C.: University Press of America, 1979. See page 167."The Cultural Arts of Africa", Benedict Donahue http://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/1431135 Fosu, Kojo. "20th Century Art of Africa", Zaria: Gasklya Corporation, 1986. Illus. See pp. 155–156. (Addit.Ref: Contemporary African Art, 1977) Gardella, David. "Momodou Ceesay of the Gambia", African Arts (Los Angeles) 7(4): 40–41, Summer 1974. illus."Momodou Ceesay of the Gambia", David Gardella http://collections.si.edu/search/results.htm?q=record_ID:siris_sil_557364 "Massachusetts: African Contemporary Art"; [exhibition, Gallery of Art, Howard University, Washington, D.C., 30 April – 31 July 1977]. Washington, D.C.: The Gallery, 1977. pp. illus. Harper, Mary. "A Distinctive Style", [review of Exhibition of Gambian artist Momodou Ceesay at Safari Afro-Gallery, London (1989)]. West Africa (London) no. 3755: 1314, 7–13 August, 198. illus."A Distinctive Style", Mary Harper http://collections.si.edu/search/results.htm?q=record_ID:siris_sil_522649 Kennedy, Jean. "New Currents, Ancient Rivers: Contemporary African Artists in a Generation of Change". Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992. illus. See p. 94.*"New Currents, Ancient Rivers: Contemporary African Artists in a Generation of Change", Jean Kennedy
References
External links "Voices of Courage" Freedom To Create Prize http://www.freedomtocreate.com "The Creative Genius of Momodou Ceesay" https://web.archive.org/web/20121005214503/http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/the-creative-genius-of-momodou-ceesay-the-renown-gambian-painter