Boris Nzebo

Boris Nzebo, originally from Libreville in Gabon, embarked on his artistic journey upon his arrival in Cameroon, where he initially crafted custom signs for hairdressing and beauty salons. His early career in advertising painting significantly influenced his artistic identity. Transitioning to pursue art exclusively in the early 2000s, Nzebo is predominantly self-taught, honing his skills in Douala under the guidance of renowned Cameroonian contemporary artist Koko Komégné, Hervé Yamguen, and through workshops at Goddy Leye's ArtBakery in Bonendale, where he completed a residency in 2007. This period allowed him to experiment with various mediums, including video, photography, installation, and performance, and to draw inspiration from acclaimed artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Jack Mitchell, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy, and Takashi Murakami.

Nzebo's work is deeply rooted in urban culture, focusing on hairstyles as a reflection of social status, personal identity, and cultural belonging. He poses critical questions about societal concerns through his art, juxtaposing the care given to personal grooming with the neglect of pressing social issues like corruption. His unique approach features the integration of transparent profiles of young women against backgrounds depicting precarious living conditions, highlighting the contrast between personal vanity and communal neglect.

His debut exhibition in April 2008 at the artists' square in Douala, titled "Lady, She go say I be Lady," drew inspiration from Nigerian singer Fela Ramson Kuti's song about women's emancipation. Subsequently, in June 2009, Nzebo showcased his work in "Jeunes Regards Urbains" at doual’art alongside young Cameroonian artists Landry Mbassi and Man Faust. Since 2010, Nzebo has participated in numerous group exhibitions both in Cameroon and internationally, including Maison Revue Noire in Paris, Savvy Contemporary in Berlin, the Blachère Foundation in Apt, Art Paris Art Fair, Ifa-Galerie in Berlin, and the 30 ET PRESQUE-SONGES exhibition at doual’art.

Nzebo has held two solo exhibitions: "In & Out of my head" at SUD2010 in Douala, and "Vil-Vissages" at the Institut Français in Yaoundé in 2011. His work gained international acclaim at ART DUBAI in April 2013, where it was presented by doual’art and celebrated as a significant success, leading to his association with the Jack Bell Gallery in London. This partnership has facilitated Nzebo's participation in several collective exhibitions, further establishing his presence on the global art stage.

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