Photos: Art in Dakar

Everywhere I turned in Dakar, there was something colorful (albeit often covered in dust) to admire: Art, like crunchy baguettes and good music, seems to be everywhere in Senegal's capital city. Some of it we purchased and brought home with us, but most of it we had to be content with photographing. Here are a few shots of Dakarois art.

A quick sketch maybe, but this wall was part of Village des Artes, a peaceful yet abundant artist community that is a must-visit.

 

I saw this image often, but here on this turquoise wall in the Ouakam neighborhood, it was most vibrant and beautiful.

 

Another beautiful painting from the Village des Artes. This African woman's profile is covering a large fence, protecting the grounds.

 

This mural, which seemed out of place, is painted on a wall downtown behind a sidewalk display of for-sale shoes (a common sight in Dakar).

 

The ubiquitous handmade colored baskets of Senegal. They are impossible not to run into and equally impossible not to buy.

 

There is so much art to see and buy on Île de Gorée, beyond the typical souvenir types. It's not hard to find something unique from the persistent artists that inhabit the island's hills. Here is something that wasn't for sale, but is simple, fun, and thought-provoking.