Bruno Claessens - Duende Art Projects Arts of the African continent
Duende Art Projects’ ambition is to inspire people and enrich their lives by sharing a profound passion for the art of the African continent.
Biography
Duende Art Projects was founded in 2021 by Bruno Claessens, a passionate art expert with 15 years of ample experience in the African art market. Previously, he was the European director of the African art department at Christie’s for 5 years. Bruno has published three books on African art (Ere Ibeji (2013), Baule Monkeys (2016) & UNÛ (2021)) and has ran a popular blog on the subject since 2013. Throughout his career, he gained a profound knowledge of art of the African continent, both classical and contemporary, and has developed a great network of collectors, curators and scholars as well as strong institutional ties.
Duende Art Projects’ ambition is to inspire people and enrich their lives by sharing a profound passion for the art of the African continent. Our purpose is to strengthen Africa’s visibility and significance within the global and diverse art world through a strong digital presence and curated exhibitions on unique locations. The inaugural exhibition “Threads” presented masterpieces by El Anatsui and Abdoulaye Konaté, together with a re-discovered 15th century Kongo trumpet, in a 14th century abandoned monastery in the historic city center of Antwerp. “Unsettled” presented a strong selection of classical Nigerian art, together with carefully selected works by 9 contemporary African artists.
Discover his artworks
Headrest
Anonymous Tsonga artist
South Africa
Height: 12.5 cm
Wood
Late 19th century
Provenance:
Private Collection, Australia
Kevin Conru, Brussels, Belgium
Terence J. Pethica, Coleshill, Buckinghamshire, UK (TP 096)
via Douglas Barett, London, UK, 2022
Duende Art Projects, Antwerp, Belgium, 2022
Publication history:
Klopper, Sandra; Nettleton, Anitra & Pethica, Terence J., The Art of Southern Africa. The Terence Pethica Collection, Milan, 5 Continents, 2007, p. 119, #48
© Valentin Clavairolles
Angelina Ndimande “Untitled”
1993
76 x 56 cm
Acrylique sur papier
Publication:
“South African Contemporary Art – Ndebele Paintings – The Alain Guisson Legacy”, Patrick & Ondine Mestdagh Gallery, Brussels, 2020, p. 31
© Yannick van Ruysevelt
Contact
Zwartzustersstraat 25
2000 Antwerp
Belgium
+32485982036
bruno@duendeartprojects.com
Discover the Bruno Claessens - Duende Art Projects during the fair
Galerie Arnaud Lefebvre
10, rue des Beaux-Arts
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