Just a small circle of women painters exist in Burkina Faso and Adjaratou ouedraogo makes the cut. More than making the cut, she has established herself as a force.
Born in 1981 in Lomé, Togo, the self-taught Burkina Faso-based painter and sculpture began honing her craft right from age 20, experimenting with different kinds of artwork from animated filmmaking, to painting, drawing, and sculpture.
Through her works, done through charcoal, acrylic, and paste, she explores deep personal experiences dating back to childhood including the hurt of her mother’s absence, giving her audience a glimpse into her life journey. She however credits painting for helping her find her voice and happiness.
In 2009, she organized her first personal exhibition with Lucien Humbert and has since had almost a hundred exhibitions in Burkina Faso, Burundi, and France.
Ouedraogo’s works which span across painting, drawing, and sculpture have been presented at several international fairs and prestigious private collections in France (Collection Leridon), Italy (Luciano Benetton Collection) and the United States.
The versatile artist is also well known for making animated films, she made her first foray in 2016. Her short film, Le Crayon, won the Best Animated Film that year at the AMAA-African Movie Academy Awards in Lagos and was selected by the CNA at Fescap in 2017.
