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MOMODOU CEESAY was born in Banjul, Gambia. December 3rd 1945 in the Gambia

Early Years Momodou Ceesay was born in 1945 and grew up in Banjul, Gambia. He moved to America in 1964 to continue his schooling, followed by undergraduate studies at the College of Letters, Wesleyan University.

It was during his studies that his early interest in art was developed by Professor SamuelGreen, an accomplished watercolourist and Professor of Art History at Wesleyan University. They first met in 1964 in Banjul, while the Professor was there on sabbatical. Ceesay developed his watercolour techniques from watching the Professor work and acquired a lifetime commitment to using the highest quality art materials.

As part of his degree programme Ceesay also spent a year in France, continuing his studies at the University de Poitiers (Tours) and La Sorbonne (Paris). There, he was strongly influenced by his experiences of seeing the originals of Picasso as well as by the student riots. The cries for freedom were everywhere, and on his return he found the same wind of change blowing in America. He moved to a Black House which had been set up by his student colleagues at the University. While there he met Clifford Thornton, a teacher at Wesleyan and also a member of the Black Panthers.

1970-1976: American Beginnings After graduating with a BA in General Studies in 1970, Ceesay moved to Boston to study Electronic Engineering. At this time he also began studying martial arts which he found brought not only discipline but also enhanced his creative spiritual process, bringing an open meditative state and the ability to function within a stream of consciousness, a philosophy Ceesay continues to maintain in his artwork. In 1971 Ceesay decided to leave his electronic engineering studies to devote himself full-time to art. He began teaching at the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts where he learned the art of silk screening under Oolong Smith.

In 1972, responding to an invitation from Edmund Barry Gaither, The Director of the National Centre of African American Artists, Ceesay participated in the exhibition ‘Kindred Spirits’, which included works by the renowned African-American artist Charles White and the Nigerian artist Chief Z.K. Olaruntuba.

In the following year, 1973, Ceesay moved to Los Angeles where he set up a screen printing studio and by 1976 was travelling widely to attend artist residencies and exhibitions around the world, including Columbia, Taiwan, Yugoslavia and Nigeria. His work was recognised and collected by investors and major Corporations alike.

1977-1983: Establishing African Roots In 1977 Ceesay returned to The Gambia. He set up the Kayor Art Gallery exhibiting the works of Gambian and Senegalese artists. He provided design and illustrations for Government and Academic publications, and produced the first billboards in The Gambia through his own Media Agency.

Ceesay’s early education was in The Gambia followed by scholarships and academic studies at Suffield Academy and Wesleyan University, Connecticut (USA). He continued his studies in France at the University de Poitiers, Tours and La Sorbonne, Paris.

Following his academic studies, Ceesay chose to pursue a career as a fine artist. His highly individualistic vision is reflected in the uniqueness of his style and use of color. This can be seen across the variety of media and methods he employs.

‘My art is an exploration of images rooted in my culture and heritage that take the viewer on a spiritual odyssey...’ MOMODOU CEESAY