Gary Nader Art Centre Announces “LAM BASQUIAT SONGYE” Exhibition in Miami

Miami, Florida — Gary Nader Art Centre announces “LAM BASQUIAT SONGYE: Wifredo Lam & Jean-Michel Basquiat — In Dialogue with the Songye Sculpture of Central Africa,” a major exhibition opening June 12 through July 21, 2026.

Bringing together two of the most influential painters of the 20th century — Wifredo Lam and Jean-Michel Basquiat — the show places their work in direct dialogue with the sculptural traditions of the Songye people of Central Africa.

A Dialogue Beyond Influence

The exhibition features approximately 35 major works by Lam and Basquiat, presented alongside authentic Songye objects, including kifwebe masks and nkisi power figures.

Rather than a traditional comparison, the curatorial approach reveals a shared philosophy: the idea that the human form exists between the visible and invisible, and that art serves as a vessel for that connection.

As founder Gary Nader explains, the African objects are not background references — they are central to understanding both artists’ visual language.

The Songye Tradition

Originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Songye sculpture is defined by spiritual function and formal power.

• Kifwebe masks feature geometric structures and bold contrasts of black, white, and red, used in rituals of social order and protection
• Nkisi figures act as activated objects — constructed with organic materials and symbolic elements, designed to hold and channel energy

These works are not representations — they are instruments of force.

Lam and the Sacred Form

For Wifredo Lam, whose background spans Afro-Caribbean, European, and Asian influences, African visual language was not discovery — but recognition.

His hybrid figures, particularly from The Jungle period, echo the same logic as nkisi sculpture: the human body as a spiritual field, not a fixed identity.

Basquiat and the Charged Surface

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work reflects a similar structure, shaped by his Caribbean heritage and early exposure to African art.

His layered canvases — built through text, symbols, and material accumulation — mirror the nkisi concept: objects that gain power through addition, marking, and activation.

The fragmented faces seen across his paintings directly resonate with the geometry of Songye masks.

A Landmark Exhibition in Miami

Set in Wynwood, the exhibition continues Gary Nader Art Centre’s legacy as a leading platform for modern and contemporary masters.

📍 Location: 62 NE 27th Street, Miami

🗓 June 12 – July 21, 2026

🕘 Opening Reception: June 12, 7:00–10:00 PM

🎟 Admission: Complimentary

In bringing Lam, Basquiat, and Songye sculpture into one space, the exhibition offers something rare — a clear view of how art, identity, and spiritual philosophy intersect across time and continents.