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From selling paintings at a roadside craft market to earning an international residency, Gambian artist Anna Isatou Bah is reviving her country’s overlooked printmaking traditions while mentoring a new generation of creatives.
Her distinctive linocut, wood relief, and mixed-media works bridge West African cultural motifs with contemporary storytelling.
After briefly abandoning her artistic ambitions after high school to work as a hair braider to support her family, Bah returned to her craft in late 2019, eventually selling her art at the Brikama craft market.
Her career hit a major turning point in 2024 when Ferenc Donderer, founder of the ART27 Group, discovered her talent at the market and invited her to join the organisation.
ART27 helped Bah secure studio space, professional guidance, and essential materials, accelerating her growth into one of the country’s leading female visual artists.
Bah’s success mirrors a broader economic shift in The Gambia, where organisations like UNESCO recognise the creative industry’s potential to drive employment and boost tourism despite a lack of formal galleries.
Bah’s current momentum has now earned her a prestigious international residency in Spain.
The upcoming programme will provide her with advanced training at the Art Print Residence in Barcelona, research opportunities at the Picasso Museum, and a masterclass in Tenerife.
Dedicated to growing her local art community, Bah currently funds her practice by teaching linocut workshops to aspiring youth, intending to bring her new international knowledge directly back home to inspire future Gambian artists.
Bird Story Agency
