Bethel Aniaku
Born: July 04, 1970, in Lomé, Togo
Email: Baniaku@yahoo.fr
Education and Training: Self-taught artist
Group Exhibitions:
20 March 2009: Homage to Martin Luther King (Art space international), Atlanta (USA)
6 March 2009: French Embassy, for "FRANCOPHONIE", Washington DC (USA)
2002: National Assembly, Paris (France)
2002: Selected among 100 worldwide artists for the World Cup exhibition, Tokyo (Japan) and Seoul (South Korea)
2001: “Le chemin du partage", Rochelle (France)
2001: “L’école de Lomé”, Luxembourg (Belgium)
2000: “Atelier jardin de Sculpture”, Goethe institute, Lomé (Togo)
1998: Exhibition at ALLAD’art, Allada (Benin)
1997: Exhibition at FAR, art festival “La Rue de Grand Bassam”, Ivory Coast
1996: International Saloon of Visual Art, Mercure Sarakawa Hotel, Lomé (Togo)
1996: Chinese cultural Center, Cotonou (Benin)
1995: Afro-European inspiration, Pedacondji (Togo)
Solo Exhibitions:
2012: Parish Gallery, Georgetown, Washington, DC (United States)
2011: La Maison Française, French Embassy, Washington, DC (United States)
2007: Château Dillon, Dillon (France)
2007: E.U. Commission, Bruxelles (Belgium)
2006: Espace Amalgama Bruxelles (Belgium)
2006: Château Bourran, Bordeaux (France)
2005: Mbari Institute, Washington, DC (USA)
2003: Theater of “L’olivier”, Istres (France)
2002: Kyffausortr Gallery, Berlin (Germany)
2002: Gesamtverband des Einzelhandels, Berlin (Germany)
2001: German Embassy, Lomé (Togo)
2001: Gallerie du Medoc, Bordeaux (France)
2000: “Inspired by intuition”, French Cultural Center, Lomé (Togo)
Awards and Recognitions:
6 April 2012: "Picture of Home" Featured in a Washington Post article titled "Making Begonias Oppressively Brutish" in the Galleries section.
2002: Honor guest at the Documenta de Kassel by the German Embassy in Lomé (Togo)
2002: Issa Kouyate’s award at the sixth edition of “D’EWOLE”
1999: Sixth place award at the visual art competition organized by the PACIPE (Environment Protection Agency), Lomé (Togo)
1994: Fourth place award at the visual art competition organized by C.O.E, an Italian Barzio organization, Lomé (Togo)

Collections:
Contemporary Art Museum of Hiroshima, Japan
B.C.E.A.O Bank, Dakar, Senegal
Tokyo museum (Japan)
Smithsonian (Washington, DC)

Philosophy:
Painting requires continual research for me. I use the abstract to best capture present reality. My compositions play with color, light, space, and various materials. Day after day, I slowly add layers to my canvas, trusting my instincts over any particular idea. This process allows the true nature of the piece to emerge over time.

Portfolio: