In the heart of Dakar, Senegal, where the Atlantic breeze mingles with the city’s vibrant cultural pulse, a new beacon of creativity has emerged. Galerie36, a small but visionary art space founded by cultural practitioner Ayofemi Kirby, is redefining what it means to experience African art. With its salmon-colored exterior and intimate, white-walled interior, this gallery is not just a place to view art—it’s a portal into the soul of Dakar’s burgeoning art scene, offering travelers and art enthusiasts a chance to discover the multidimensional voices of contemporary African artists.
Dakar has long been a cultural hub, home to the renowned Dakar Biennale and a growing network of platforms like ArtX that champion African creativity. Galerie36 joins this vibrant ecosystem with a fresh perspective, prioritizing intimacy and authenticity over the grandeur of traditional galleries. Ayofemi Kirby, who honed her craft in New York’s art world, envisioned a space that counters the often cold, exclusive vibe of conventional galleries. “Sometimes the gallerist won’t look at you. You walk in, and you’re not greeted,” Kirby shared in an interview with OkayAfrica. At Galerie36, the experience is different: visitors are welcomed into a warm, communal space where art sparks conversation and connection.
The gallery’s small scale is its strength. Unlike sprawling museum spaces, Galerie36 invites you to linger, sip a beverage, browse art books, or chat with artists. Its launch exhibition, Meeting Nature by self-taught Senegalese artist Daouda Niane Dit Uda, sets the tone. Uda’s colorful compositions, filled with faceless figures and expressive lines, explore shared humanity and diverse identities. His work, discovered by Kirby through a neighbor’s introduction, embodies the gallery’s mission to uncover hidden gems and amplify voices that might otherwise go unnoticed.
