Amadou Opa Bathily was born in Bamako, Mali, in 1987. He graduated from the National Institute of Arts (INA) and the Balla Fasséké Kouyaté Multimedia Arts and Crafts Conservatory (CAMM-BFK) in Bamako, where he graduated at the top of his class in 2015.
Amadou Opa Bathily's art is a dynamic testimony to the unity of human expression and the enduring significance of fabric. It resonates with the heartbeat of Africa's creative spirit, as it deftly merges tradition and innovation, revealing the vibrant tapestry of life through the artist's discerning eyes. His vivid color palette and figurative style speak the language of the vibrant life of Bamako, Mali's capital and economic center.
He began his artistic journey at a young age in an art recycling workshop (Atelier Miria), where he worked with various materials, especially metal (can lids). Through his experiences in different art schools, he developed a new perspective on materials such as metal, fabric, and leather.
Amadou Opa Bathily's art is characterized by his energy in creation and extraordinary mastery of both hard and flexible materials. His diverse artistry encompasses painting, sculpture, installation, and various other forms of expression. For him, everything can be both supple and enduring when the artist and the material coexist in harmony.
Bathily is an artist profoundly connected to movement. His techniques are reminiscent of pointillism and impressionism, aiming to capture the intrinsic motion of humanity and applying these teachings as they transition towards modernity. Bathily's art reaches deep into the rich cultural tapestry of Africa, acknowledging the historical significance of textiles. What better way to represent the human body - in its playfulness, journeys, and wanderings - than through the fabric that adorns it? The fabric's fluidity, its folds and drapes, its ability to both veil and unveil, mirrors the intricate choreography of our muscles and the subtle rhythms of our hearts and souls.
His work not only pays homage to the past but also seeks to bridge two distinct figures that have too often been kept apart in the Western art scene: the artisan and the artist. Bathily embarks on a journey of reconciliation, weaving together the rich tapestry of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary artistry. Mali stands as a region poised between the final stretches of rainforest and a portion of the formidable Sahara Desert. It navigates the contrast between the arid landscapes of its northern regions and the presence of one of Africa's grandest rivers, the Niger. Flowing from Bamako and Ségou, the Niger embarks on a monumental journey to Timbuktu, challenging the vast desert expanses. Just when it appears to dissipate into the sands, the river abruptly veers southward, cascading into the Atlantic Ocean and forming one of the world's most intricate deltas. This geographical tapestry not only shapes the lives of its inhabitants but likely influences their artistic expressions, intertwining with the legacies, traditions, and complexities of their era. This interplay of geography and culture becomes an integral part of the narrative surrounding Mali artist Amadou Opa Bathily.
Since 2025 his original artworks have been exhibited and collected worldwide. He has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Mali and Tunisia, including the "Art de la lumière" exhibition in Tunisia. Bathily is a part of the Kôrè-qualité II art development program at the Kôrè Cultural Center in Ségou and a laureate of the National City Talent Competition in 2017. In 2023, he marked a milestone with his inaugural museum exhibition in Morocco, a pivotal moment setting the stage for his art to gain broader prominence on the international scene.
EXHIBITIONS
2023 Abderrahman Slaoui Museum, "Transmission", Marrakech, Morocco
2015 – 23 "Segou'art", Senegal
2022 Taxi-Bamako, Solo exhibition "L'Enfance Retrouvée", Bamako, Mali
2022 African Arty, "Route Trans-Saharienne", Casablanca, Morocco
2022 Médina Gallery, "Top 10", Bamako, Mali
2021 Loman Art Gallery,l'événement artistique du Partcours, Dakar, Senegal
2021 AKAA Art Fair, African Arty Gallery, Paris, France
2018 "Interference", Medina, Tunisia
2015Tumo Gallery "Rêves Identitaires et Réalités",Vilnius, Lithuania
EDUCATION
Diploma in Fine Arts from the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers Multimedia Balla Fasséké Kouyaté (2008-2013), Mali
Technician Diploma in Fine Arts from the National Institute of Arts (2004-2008), Bamako, Mali
PRIZES AND RECOGNITIONS
2017 National Segou City Talent Prize, Kore Cultural Center, Mali
