Issa Samb (born in Dakar, Sengal, 1945) was an artist of great historical importance: a retrospective of his work appeared at the National Art Gallery (Dakar) in 2010. His work is of significance to the history of art not simply within the context of the artist’s particular geographical and historical location. His work (and its history) opens up questions about experimental art practices; and the dialogues that take place between generations of artists (working across geography and historical time).
The experimental and legendary Senegalese artist Issa Samb, born December 31, 1945, has died in Dakar on April 25, 2017. Koyo Kouoh who Koyo is Cameroonian-born, independent exhibition maker and cultural producer, writes about him thus, “When you live in Dakar and you are involved in cultural production and in politics, you will encounter Issa Samb; he is unavoidable. He has this generosity and openness to supporting and pushing artistic thought and practice.”