African Arts

For thousands of years African artists have created beautiful and meaningful works of art – from the rock art of humankind’s earliest representatives to the exquisite carvings and paintings of today.

The Owl House, Nieu Bethesda, South Africa
A Gallery of images of The Owl House, Nieu Bethesda, South Africa.

Monet in Africa
The impact of light in Algeria on the Impressionist painter Claude Monet.

The Owl House, Nieu Bethesda, South Africa
The Owl House and surrounding Camel Yard contain over 300 concrete and glass sculptures created by Helen Elizabeth Martins.

Adinkra Symbology
Adinkra is a cloth produced in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire which has traditional Akan symbols stamped upon it – the symbols represent proverbs, historical events, particular attitudes, or philosophical concepts.

Nok Terracottas
A distinctive style of terracotta sculpture associated with the ancient African Nok Culture. These terracotta sculptures date from 500 BCE to 200 CE, representing the earliest example of sub-Saharan tribal art.

Studying African history through African art
James Giblin, a professor from the History Department, University of Iowa, uses the study of African art to encourage a new and fresh look at African history.

Building in Ancient Egypt
A wonderfully illustrated reference on construction techniques of Ancient Egypt includes planning, building materials, tools. The site can, however, be slow to load.

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