African Art

By: Jennifer Sims

 Basic Characteristic of African Art
 Art made was made from the resources
available.
 Art was originally made for the functional
purpose.
 Along with being utilitarian, art was also used in
ceremonies and rituals.
 More Characteristics of African Art
 Style of art created was abstract in style.
 Many works of art are based upon symmetrical
balance.
 Use of patterns in the design of baskets and
fabric design are common.
 Use of bright colors is common in fabric design
and on buildings.
Mask
 Carved from wood.
 Mask had great
spiritual
importance.
 Often the mask
were abstract in
style since they
represented spirits.
 Types of Masks
 face mask: mask worn
to hide the identity
of the wearer.
 headpieces:
ornamental or
ceremonial coverings
that were worn on the
head.
 shoulder mask:
covered the head
and rested on the
shoulders of the
wearer.
Types of Mask
 Kente Cloth

 Made by the Ashante weavers. Originally worn

by Ashante royalty.
 First woven in strips 60 inches long and then
sewn together.
 A Kente cloth’s colors and designs carry
symbolic meaning. EX: history, values, or
beliefs.
 Kente Cloth
Characteristics
of Kente Cloth
Geometric
shapes
Bright colors
Patterns
 Pottery
 Pottery was
produced to carry
water and food in.
 Then later sold to
tourist to bring in
income.
 Pottery was made
by the coil method.
More Pottery
 Baskets
 Baskets were woven
to make containers
for carrying things.
 Often patterns were
made in the baskets
by using different
colored grass that
may have been
dyed.
More Baskets
Figure Sculptures
 Figures were carved
from wood.
 Also, some areas of
Africa used bronze to
cast their sculptures.
 Figures have
symmetrical balance.
 Sculptures were
abstract in style.
More Figure Sculptures

 Rituals were performed during the

process of making the sculptures.
 Rituals included offerings to the spirit
of the tree that the wood was taken
from.
Musical Instruments
 Ceremonial/Ritual Purpose
 African Art was used
in many instances for
ceremonies or rituals.
 Mask were used to
transform tribal
members into spirits.
 Dance and music was
used to enhance the
ceremony.
More Ceremonial
Scenes
 Impact of African Art on Art of
the 20th Century
 Examples of African Art: mask and figure
sculptures were first seen in Europe during the
end of the 19th century.
 Influenced artist like Pablo Picasso and others to
work in an abstract style in the 20 th century.
 Summary
 African Art was created to be functional or
utilitarian, which means to use.
 Some art was used in ceremonies and/or
rituals.
 Art was abstract in style, because it was
often representing a spirit.
 Artwork often has symmetrical balance.
 Types of African Art include: mask, Kente
Cloth, baskets, pottery, figure sculptures,
and musical instruments.
 Characteristics of African
Art
 Mask  Pottery
- symmetrical balance - coil method
-made of wood,  Baskets
bronze and
other resources. - patterns
 Kente Cloth  Figure Sculptures
- geometric shapes - symmetrical balance
- bright colors - carved of wood,
- patterns some cast in
bronze
 Musical Instruments