Baba Ly

Biography

Born in 1987 in Thiès (Senegal), Baba Ly grew up in Dakar. He was steeped in art from an early age, since his father — the painter Amadou Dédé Ly — has done his utmost to support him.

His canvases all vibrate with emotion, the emotion he shares with the Talibés, those young boys entrusted to a Quranic school so that they may learn the Quran and know humility through begging. Baba himself faced the hard life of these children left to themselves, having lived in his grandfather's Daara during his childhood in Thiès. The Talibés thus inspire him and he loves to paint them, for through his works he supports them in his own way.

For him, painting is the frozen reflection of everyday reality and represents far more than a profession. It is a passion. The arrangement of colours and the tones he gives them are the very essence of his painting. He has chosen earthy colours in shades of brown, beige, gold and ochre, with a luminosity that brings his works to life. In his compositions he integrates aesthetic considerations. The faces of his figures are rarely seen.

He exhibits in Senegal and the United States.