Alfred Conteh

Alfred Conteh is a classically trained painter and sculptor. His work spans a range of mediums and materials and is grounded in figuration and abstraction. Conteh’s work makes use of lyricism and natural forms while evoking architectonic structures that reference built human environments. As an African American artist, Conteh sheds light on the current realities of African American people; by bringing their stories and experiences to the forefront.

Conteh initially created Assa in consideration for the cover of Time Magazine. The portrait of French activist Assa Traoré is part of the artist’s ongoing visual exploration of the legacy of the African American journey. Assa exudes the strength and resilience of black women who confront racial injustice and inequality.

“Alfred personifies the model of a passionate creator and dedicated artist to his craft and community,” reflects Curlee Raven Holton on working with Conteh in the studio. 

Conteh explores the disparities against African American communities with images of contemporary members of the African diaspora, placed in what are often mundane environments. Grounded in the figurative, Conteh’s work depicts complex individuals that convey a collective representation of being Black in America. 

He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from Hampton University and a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Georgia Southern University. His artwork can be found in public and private collections throughout the world, including the permanent collections of the Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR; Bajeel Art Foundation, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN; Museum of Arts and Sciences Permanent Collection, Macon, GA; Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art, Ashbury, NJ; Tubman Museum Permanent Collection, Macon, GA; Georgia Southern University Permanent Collection, Statesboro, GA.