Gerly Mpo

Gerly Mpo was born in Ngabé in 1962 and lives and works in Brazzaville. A painter, engraver, draftsman, and calligrapher, he is one of the rare young artists who entered the renowned Poto-Poto School of Painting at the time. Intrigued by the place, he pushed open its unusually quiet doors and, following an interview with Director Ondongo, enrolled with determination, equipped with the essentials to begin his training.

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Already a skilled draftsman, Mpo quickly drew the attention of the senior masters, who were captivated by the precision and originality of his work and guided him closely throughout his artistic development. In 1982, following an exhibition in Moscow, he created three notable paintings "Butterflies, A River, and A Warrior" which were showcased internationally. He later produced several murals across Brazzaville.

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In 1987, he was awarded the Addax Prize at the Gabon Biennale. Between 1981 and 2013, his work was exhibited worldwide, including at Galerie Brousseau in Limoges, Galerie Artena in Marseille, Dresden City Hall in Germany, the Club of Arts in New York, the Pierre Cardin Cultural Center in Paris, and the Auditorium Santa Cecilia in Rome. From 1994 to 2014, he took part in various collective workshops in Congo and France.

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In 2009, he received the Sanza de Mfoa award in the painting category, presented by Beethoven Pella Yombo, and in 2016 he won the First Prize of the Total Société competition in Pointe-Noire.

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Gerly Mpo’s artistic style blends semi-abstract and figurative elements, exploring the deep relationship between humanity and nature. He is also passionate about portraying the Sapeurs and the everyday lives of children in public spaces, capturing their energy and spirit with enthusiasm and sensitivity.