Bodys Isek Kingelez
Democratic Republic of Congo | Sculpture, Architecture
Futuristic architectural models made from everyday materials, envisioning utopian cities.
Exhibitions
Bodys Isek Kingelez: City Dreams
2018 - Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA
The first major retrospective in the United States of Kingelez’s work, this exhibition featured his visionary architectural models of utopian cities, highlighting his imaginative exploration of urban environments and social ideals.
Documenta 11
2002 - Kassel, Germany
Kingelez’s work was included in this prestigious international exhibition, where his intricate and colorful models of idealized cities captivated audiences and emphasized his unique approach to contemporary art and architecture.
The Short Century: Independence and Liberation Movements in Africa, 1945-1994
2001 - Museum Villa Stuck, Munich, Germany
A landmark exhibition that included Kingelez’s work, focusing on the role of artists in post-colonial Africa, with his models representing visions of a better, more equitable society.
Africa Remix: Contemporary Art of a Continent
2005 - Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Group exhibition that featured Kingelez’s work among other leading African artists, showcasing the diversity of contemporary African art and the visionary nature of his architectural models.
Les Afriques
2000 - Musée d'art contemporain de Lyon, Lyon, France
Group exhibition where Kingelez’s work was displayed alongside other African artists, focusing on the interplay between tradition and modernity in African art, with his models serving as a futuristic interpretation of urban planning.
Beauté Congo – 1926-2015: Congo Kitoko
2015 - Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris, France
A group exhibition that explored the art and culture of the Congo, featuring Kingelez’s intricate models that depict fantastical cityscapes, representing his vision of a modern, prosperous Africa.