Artist Mederic Turay was born in Ivory Coast, but spent most of his childhood in Washington D.C. "I have those two combinations of cultures struggling in my soul," he says. "I think my paintings reflect that because you can see something very African in them, but also a very contemporary style, like street art."
Artist Mederic Turay was born in Ivory Coast, but spent most of his childhood in Washington D.C. "I have those two combinations of cultures struggling in my soul," he says. "I think my paintings reflect that because you can see something very African in them, but also a very contemporary style, like street art."
Mederic Turay
Turay's career took off in 2013 after winning the Jack Bell prize, a London-based program aimed at supporting young artists across Africa. His pieces now fetch up to $13,000 each. His collectors include Charles Saatchi and former French President Nicholas Sarkozy's ex-wife Cécilia Attias.
Turay's career took off in 2013 after winning the Jack Bell prize, a London-based program aimed at supporting young artists across Africa. His pieces now fetch up to $13,000 each. His collectors include Charles Saatchi and former French President Nicholas Sarkozy's ex-wife Cécilia Attias.
Mederic Turay
"It's really about finding your own collectors and people that will follow you all the way," adds Turay. "When the Saatchi Gallery bought 17 of my pieces, that took me to another level. Despite that, I still feel like I'm only just starting out as an artist."
"It's really about finding your own collectors and people that will follow you all the way," adds Turay. "When the Saatchi Gallery bought 17 of my pieces, that took me to another level. Despite that, I still feel like I'm only just starting out as an artist."
Mederic Turay
Coffee is a major export of Ivory Coast, and Turay uses it in his art to celebrate his home country. "I add glue to thicken the coffee, so that I can work it just like acrylic paint," he says. "I spread it, add colored paper, and work it up in layers. It's a slow process but each time it dries, it starts to morph, and the face begins to appear by itself."<br />
Coffee is a major export of Ivory Coast, and Turay uses it in his art to celebrate his home country. "I add glue to thicken the coffee, so that I can work it just like acrylic paint," he says. "I spread it, add colored paper, and work it up in layers. It's a slow process but each time it dries, it starts to morph, and the face begins to appear by itself."
Mederic Turay
"The best way for me to celebrate black beauty is to express myself with beautiful, bright colors," he adds.
"The best way for me to celebrate black beauty is to express myself with beautiful, bright colors," he adds.
Mederic Turay
His piece "Mona Africa" is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa", and is a special tribute to the human fossil "Lucy" discovered in Ethiopia in the 1970's. "Lucy was the first woman to trace us back to the origins of humanity," says Turay.
His piece "Mona Africa" is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa", and is a special tribute to the human fossil "Lucy" discovered in Ethiopia in the 1970's. "Lucy was the first woman to trace us back to the origins of humanity," says Turay.
Mederic Turay
Turay admires and identifies with Jean-Michel Basquiat, an African-American artist who gained fame in the 1970s and 80s. "He didn't have any boundaries around who inspired him," he adds. "I don't like boundaries either, which is why you can see the influence of Basquiat, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali in my paintings."
Turay admires and identifies with Jean-Michel Basquiat, an African-American artist who gained fame in the 1970s and 80s. "He didn't have any boundaries around who inspired him," he adds. "I don't like boundaries either, which is why you can see the influence of Basquiat, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali in my paintings."
Mederic Turay
Turay says the key to success as an artist is building a strong brand, marketing it as much as possible. "You can't sit in your studio waiting for opportunities to come," says Turay. "You've got to get out there and start marketing. Through that I've started to get a lot of collectors where I'm currently based, here in Morocco."
Turay says the key to success as an artist is building a strong brand, marketing it as much as possible. "You can't sit in your studio waiting for opportunities to come," says Turay. "You've got to get out there and start marketing. Through that I've started to get a lot of collectors where I'm currently based, here in Morocco."
Mederic Turay
"Picasso was a master at marketing," says Turay. "He knew how to promote his world and himself. That is what's missing in the African arts. If you really want people to understand your art, it has to be marketed properly. It needs to have a brand, and with the Internet nowadays, you can have everything for free."
"Picasso was a master at marketing," says Turay. "He knew how to promote his world and himself. That is what's missing in the African arts. If you really want people to understand your art, it has to be marketed properly. It needs to have a brand, and with the Internet nowadays, you can have everything for free."
Mederic Turay
Turay's work addresses issues endemic to both Ivory Coast and the U.S., like homelessness, violence and poverty.
Turay's work addresses issues endemic to both Ivory Coast and the U.S., like homelessness, violence and poverty.
Mederic Turay
"A friend of mine in the U.S. recently told me that two homeless people died on the streets, just in the last two days. It was in the city I come from, Washington D.C. That inspired me to make this piece," says Turay of his artwork "Rich In Your Heart".
"A friend of mine in the U.S. recently told me that two homeless people died on the streets, just in the last two days. It was in the city I come from, Washington D.C. That inspired me to make this piece," says Turay of his artwork "Rich In Your Heart".
Mederic Turay
The piece "Broken Dreams" refers to the use of child soldiers in Ivory Coast and several other African countries. "It's bad enough that children's lives are torn apart by wars they didn't start. But when they're forced into fighting in the conflict themselves, it causes psychological and physical damage that can often never be repaired," says Turay.
The piece "Broken Dreams" refers to the use of child soldiers in Ivory Coast and several other African countries. "It's bad enough that children's lives are torn apart by wars they didn't start. But when they're forced into fighting in the conflict themselves, it causes psychological and physical damage that can often never be repaired," says Turay.
Mederic Turay
The recent refugee crisis has seen thousands drown on the perilous journey to Europe. "Like butterflies attracted to light, these immigrants are attracted by a false paradise. Thousands die, sometimes in silence," says Turay, referring to his work "The Red Line".
The recent refugee crisis has seen thousands drown on the perilous journey to Europe. "Like butterflies attracted to light, these immigrants are attracted by a false paradise. Thousands die, sometimes in silence," says Turay, referring to his work "The Red Line".
Mederic Turay
Turay currently is exhibiting work at BCK Gallery in Marrakesh, Morocco, and is part of the Marrakesh Biennale, which launched on February 24. He also plans to open solo shows in Casablanca, Dubai and Spain later this year.
Turay currently is exhibiting work at BCK Gallery in Marrakesh, Morocco, and is part of the Marrakesh Biennale, which launched on February 24. He also plans to open solo shows in Casablanca, Dubai and Spain later this year.
Mederic Turay