Antoine Sita
Antoine Sita was born in 1952 in Brazzaville, where he continues to live and work. As the most senior painter of the Poto-Poto School of Painting, Sita has played a pivotal role in the development and preservation of this iconic artistic tradition.
He joined the Poto-Poto School of Painting in 1978, after completing his second session of law studies at Marien Ngouabi University (Higher Institute of Economic, Legal, Administrative, and Management Sciences). Even while pursuing higher education, Sita remained devoted to art, taking painting classes alongside his studies, determined to make it his lifelong vocation. Guided by Mr. Ondongo, former director of the school, Sita quickly felt at home: “Art is a gift. Given my academic limitations, I had to pursue the profession I would dedicate my life to. I was warmly welcomed at the School of Painting, and no diploma was required.”
During his early years at Poto-Poto, he was surrounded by established painters such as Iloki and Ngavouka, but it was Jean Crispin who became his principal mentor. Sita’s career quickly gained international recognition: he participated in the Exposition des Arts Nègres in Dakar, Senegal in 1985, exhibited in Bordeaux, France in 1988, and in Moscow, Russia in 1991. In 2007, he was awarded by the World Health Organization for an exhibition of his paintings. He continued to showcase his work in Europe, including the Maison des Arts de Barakas in France in 2013, and a collective exhibition at the Scuola d’Arte Poto-Poto in Milan, Italy.
Over 47 years later, Antoine Sita remains active at the Poto-Poto School, mentoring new generations of artists. Known for his meticulous and eclectic style, Sita often illustrates African traditional medicine and the everyday life of villagers, emphasizing moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Women performing domestic and social tasks are a recurrent theme in his work, often set against vibrant, color-rich backgrounds. As he explains: “Each color has a meaning. Symbolism and language contribute to the sadness and joy of a painting.”
