African Art Galleries

African art culture consists of different art forms created by various tribes. This African tribal art is regarded as one of the finest creations in the world of art. Africans use art for cross-cultural dialogues, personal therapies and in order to communicate with gods and ancestors. Hence, art is an integral part of the daily African life. The main material used for most African art forms was wood, which was decorated with clay, shells, beads, ivory, metal and feathers. Masks and figures have also been the most important types of art forms that were used in religious ceremonies. The tremendous collection of all these African art forms and their replicas can be found in different African art galleries all over the world.

The African art masks are usually very colorful and use various patterns as decoration. African art masks may have different looks and may depict different emotions. Some may look fierce, some festive and others may have a solemn, sober look. Some African art masks are a part of a costume for festivities.

Each African art mask has a specific function. Some are used to drive away spirits, while some are used in plays to depict comic features. African art masks are also used in ceremonies and religious functions. They are also used in traditional dances.

Wildlife art is considered as one of man’s earliest art forms because some of the carvings that have been found in archeological sites predate written history. This art form inspires an appreciation of the relationship between man and nature. However, wildlife art can depict other things depending on which country or place the artwork comes from. An example of this is how Native Americans associated different traits with different animals. Another example is what wildlife art represents in Africa.