Dakar Contemporary Art Map: Galleries, Art Spaces, and Exhibitions
Dakar's contemporary art scene is anchored by the Dak'Art Biennale, founded in 1992 and one of the longest-running platforms for contemporary art on the African continent. Activity is distributed between the Plateau, where the Musée Théodore Monod (IFAN) and the more recently opened Musée des Civilisations Noires provide historical and institutional weight, and the western residential districts of Mermoz, Almadies, and Yoff, where many of the independent venues and galleries are based. Selebe Yoon, OH Gallery, and Galerie Atiss form the core of the commercial gallery scene, while Le Manège at the Institut Français hosts a steady stream of contemporary exhibitions. RAW Material Company, founded by Koyo Kouoh, operates as a critical research and exhibition platform with substantial international reach. The Village des Arts provides studios and residency space for Senegalese and visiting artists, while Kër Thiossane has long sustained a focus on digital practices, and Kehinde Wiley's Black Rock Senegal residency adds an internationally networked node on the coast.
The biennial framework places contemporary art in Dakar alongside Lagos and Cape Town within a Pan-African exhibition logic — three cities whose distinct but interlinked infrastructures of fairs, biennials, and project spaces shape how the continent's contemporary production reaches both regional and global audiences.
To explore further, see the sections dedicated to galleries and art institutions in Dakar.
Explore Dakar
A local guide to Dakar, with links to its galleries, institutions, and wider Senegal art context.
Contemporary Art in Africa
Explore other major contemporary art scenes across Africa.
Contemporary Art Venues in Dakar
A selection of galleries, museums, foundations, and independent art spaces currently mapped in Dakar.
Galerie Arte
Commercial gallery in Dakar presenting contemporary African art, design-adjacent works, and collectible objects, with a program oriented toward both local audiences and visitors.
Its role sits between contemporary gallery practice and Dakar’s broader cultural economy.
Galerie Atiss Dakar
Established gallery in Dakar presenting modern and contemporary African art, with a program attentive to Senegalese artists, painting, sculpture, and textile-based practices within the local scene.
Its longevity makes it a reference point for Dakar’s gallery ecosystem and collector networks.
Galerie Kemboury
Based in Ouakam, Galerie Kemboury presents contemporary African art with attention to painting, sculpture, and mixed-media practices by artists from Senegal and the wider region.
It strengthens Dakar’s gallery network through sustained engagement with regional contemporary practices.
Galerie Nationale d'Art du Sénégal
Public gallery in Dakar dedicated to exhibitions of Senegalese and international artists, operating as a state-supported venue for contemporary visual art and cultural representation.
Its public mandate gives contemporary art an official platform within Senegal’s cultural infrastructure.
This is a curated selection. Explore the full network of contemporary art venues on the map.
Explore Contemporary Art Worldwide
Discover related art scenes across other global regions.
