New African Masquerades Exhibition Opens at Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg
From August 15, 2026, until January 3, 2027, the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg will present 'New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations.' This exhibition showcases modern masquerade outfits created by Chief Ekpenyong Bassey Nsa (Nigeria), David Sanou (Burkina Faso), Sheku 'Goldenfinger' Fofanah (Sierra Leone), and Hervé Youmbi (Cameroon). Attendees can explore masks, complete costumes, documentary photography, videos, and engaging multimedia experiences. Organized in collaboration with the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Musée des Civilisations noires in Dakar, Senegal, the exhibition examines the evolution of masquerade traditions across various art forms. Notable pieces include Sanou's geometric masks paired with dyed fiber costumes and Youmbi's 'Tso Scream Mask,' adorned with thousands of beads, highlighting community and collaborative artistry.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations' at Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg.
- Runs from August 15, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
- Features four artists: Chief Ekpenyong Bassey Nsa (Nigeria), David Sanou (Burkina Faso), Sheku 'Goldenfinger' Fofanah (Sierra Leone), Hervé Youmbi (Cameroon).
- Includes masks, full ensembles, documentary photos, videos, and immersive multimedia.
- Organized by New Orleans Museum of Art in partnership with Musée des Civilisations noires in Dakar, Senegal.
- Sanou's geometric masks are paired with colorfully dyed fiber costumes.
- Youmbi's 'Tso Scream Mask' incorporates beads over the Scream movie face.
- Masquerade traditions encompass sculpture, textiles, performance, music, and community participation.
Entities
Artists
- Chief Ekpenyong Bassey Nsa
- David Sanou
- Sheku Goldenfinger Fofanah
- Hervé Youmbi
- André Sanou
Institutions
- Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg
- New Orleans Museum of Art
- Musée des Civilisations noires
- Fitchburg Art Museum
- Axis Gallery
- Colossal
Locations
- St. Petersburg
- Florida
- United States
- Dakar
- Senegal
- Nigeria
- Burkina Faso
- Sierra Leone
- Cameroon
- Bobo-Dioulasso
- Bindougosso district
- Lunsar
- Fondanti
- New York
- New Jersey