Aboudia

b.  1983, Ivory Coast

Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, known as Aboudia, depicts street scenes of his city Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast. In his bold, large-format mixed-media paintings and drawings reminiscent of the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Aboudia draws inspiration from the aesthetics of graffiti and traditional African carvings. He portrays the youths of the toughest neighborhoods of his city and the violent conflict that ravaged Abidjan in 2011 after elections. Although recurring motifs of skulls, soldiers, and bullets suggest unimaginable traumas and brutality, Aboudia's vivid color palette enhances the innocence of children living amidst chaos. Aboudia has held numerous exhibitions in Ivory Coast, London, Paris, New York, Marrakech, and other cities. His works have been acquired by the Saatchi Gallery, the Jean Pigozzi African Art Collection, and the Nevada Museum of Art, with an auction sales record of £504,000.