PARIS.- Artcurial welcomes Christophe Person, who has been appointed head of the Department of Contemporary African Art, a new speciality of the 20th and 21st Centuries section at Artcurial.

Christophe Person
With 5 years of experience in this speciality, Christophe Person aims to make a growing number of collectors aware of the richness and diversity of modern and contemporary artistic creation in Africa and the Diaspora. Convinced that African artists bring a contemporary and relevant view of the world, he will be eager to offer an extensive panorama of works by artists of all generations and all origins, whose personal and artistic paths shed new light on the challenges of society.

Christophe Person is a graduate of HEC Paris and holds a Master’s degree in Art Law and Business from Christie’s Education in London. He has worked in finance between Paris and London for ten years. His daily activities included fundraising for social companies in developing countries in Africa and Asia. He then worked for five years at PIASA where he created and developed the department of Contemporary African Art.

Strongly involved in the promotion and enhancement of creation in Africa, and convinced of the importance of creating and encouraging events on the Continent, Christophe Person is the president and founder of BISO, the first International Biennial of Sculpture of Ouagadougou. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, based in Connecticut, which he is advising on a museum construction project in Senegal. Lastly, he is a member of the selection committee for the traveling exhibition «Exception d’Afrique», the first stage of which will celebrate the crafts and creation of the African continent and its diaspora.




« Artcurial is delighted to welcome Christophe Person to lead the African Contemporary Art department. The development of new markets is part of our DNA and has largely contributed to Artcurial’s success. Christophe Person is a committed promoter of the African art scene and his expertise is recognized. » --Martin Guesnet, Director Europe, Artcurial

« We are looking forward to relying on Christophe Person to develop this young and dynamic market in Paris and Marrakesh, with the aim of promoting talent in Africa, a continent with a bright future.» --Olivier Berman, Director, Artcurial Morocco

« I am looking forward to joining Artcurial as Director of the department of African Contemporary Art. I am confident that this young speciality will benefit from access to a growing number of collectors, and from the synergies that can be established with the other specialities of the house and its international locations, particularly in Morocco. » --Christophe Person, Director, Contemporay African Art department, Artcurial

The Contemporary African Art department at Artcurial
Artcurial blazed a trail as early as 2010, in Paris, when it held its first sale dedicated to Contemporary African Art, with 65 artists representing 24 nationalities.

In 2017, the house decided to hold, at one of its twin-site sales, Paris#Marrakech, African Spirit, focusing on Contemporary African Art. Taking place in Marrakech, it benefited from the dynamism of the Red City, which is attracting growing numbers of collectors from Morocco, Europe, America and the Middle East. A new edition was held in 2018, enabling the department to set, in the space of two years, no fewer than 12 world records for artists such as Bodys Isek Kingelez, Malick Sidibé, Omar Victor Diop, Abdoulaye Konaté and Seydou Keïta.

A genuine cultural hub in Africa, Morocco is now an essential place for promoting and developing the African scene. Artcurial holds two sales there every year, with the aim of presenting high-quality works by established artists and by fresh talent.