ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Born in 1986, Yelli "Manel" Ndoye trained in drawing and painting at the École des Beaux-Arts de Dakar, guided by his mentor, Douts Ndoye. His talent was quickly recognized, winning an award at the International Festival of Visual Arts in Gorgan, Iran, in 2009. Graduating top of his class in 2010, he began exhibiting regularly in Senegal at venues such as Galerie du Manège, Eiffage Sénégal, and Galerie Arte, earning praise from established artists, including Joe Ouakam.
Manel’s work balances figuration and abstraction, often inspired by the coastal Lébou community and the Ndawrabine dance, a traditional performance mimicking the movements of fishermen. His paintings, vibrant and rhythmic, capture the energy of dance and the fluidity of the sea. In 2012, he gained international recognition at the 10th edition of the Dak’Art Biennale, where he won the Blachère Foundation Prize, leading to a residency and a solo exhibition exploring themes of environmental pressure and cultural heritage.
Since then, Manel has exhibited internationally, including Lifting the Veil at the Royal Theatre of Marrakech in 2019, From Saint-Louis to Saint-Louis, and his solo show Geej at Galerie Carole Kvasnevski in Paris (2019-2020). His latest solo exhibitions include Traits et contrastes at Galerie Hoop in Dakar (2021), an exploration of underwater landscapes and microscopic textures, and Formes synchronisées at Jack Bell Gallery in London (2023). Through his dynamic compositions, Manel Ndoye continues to celebrate movement, light, and the deep connection between humanity and the sea.
Artworks 2025