Talle Bamazi facts for kids

Talle Bamazi is a talented artist, curator, and gallery owner. He was born in Togo, a country in West Africa, and is part of the Kabye group. Today, he lives and works in Columbus, Ohio.

Early Life and Art Journey

Talle Bamazi grew up in northern Togo. His journey into art began early when he learned from his uncle, who was a traditional Togolese artist. Even though he studied architecture for a while in Lomé, he soon realized his true passion was painting. He developed a unique style that mixes traditional African art with modern art.

Learning and Growing as an Artist

After moving to the United States, Talle continued his art education. He studied at the Art Students League of New York. He then earned a special art degree (MFA) from the New York Academy of Art. Currently, he is a main artist at the King Arts Complex. Here, his huge collection of life-sized portraits of Black artists from Columbus is displayed in the historic Pythian theater.

Opening His Own Gallery

From 2004 to 2011, Talle Bamazi ran his own art gallery called KIACA. This name stood for Kabiye Impact Contemporary African Art. It was the only gallery owned by a Black person in Columbus's famous arts area, the Short North. KIACA was very important for many African and African-American artists in Columbus. It helped them show their work and grow their careers. One artist who got a start there was April Sunami.

Where His Art Has Been Seen

Talle Bamazi's artwork has been shown in many important places. The Columbus Museum of Art featured his solo shows in 2008 and again in 2020. His art has also been displayed at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce, Ohio. Other solo exhibitions include shows at Columbus City Hall and galleries in New York and Lomé. His art has also been part of group shows at places like the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts in Brooklyn, New York.

Special Recognitions

In 2014, Talle Bamazi was honored at the 27th Annual King Arts Center Gala. He was recognized alongside Aminah Robinson, who received a very special award called the MacArthur "Genius" grant.

Talle in the Media

Talle Bamazi has often appeared on local TV shows like "Good News" on Time Warner Cable Channel 23. When he was younger in Lomé, he even hosted his own TV show about art! His work has also been featured in well-known art magazines such as Art in America, Monarch Magazine, and Diva Magazine.