Background & Biography:
The internationally renowned and famous Gambian painter
and printmaker, (Modou) Modou Ceesay, has been engaged
in the arts for over three decades. He owns and runs
an art studio and gallery called Kyor Art Gallery which
is located in his local base at Bakau, though he has
spent many years in the United States and continues
to travel abroad. He lived for a short while in the
Swiss Cottage area of London,
UK, back in the late 1980's, with his wife and son,
where he produced among other works 'Genesis' - 1989.
 He
was born in the Gambia's capital, Banjul, in 1945 where
he also received his early
school education.
Ceesay is a self-taught yet, a talented artist who embarked
on his long-burning passion for painting after receiving
a
Bachelor's Degree in literature and languages in 1970
from the Wesleyan University in Connecticut (USA). It
is therefore not surprising to learn that he is also
an accomplished author writing his most recent novel
titled 'On My Knees Before These Mighty Heavens' (Walsworth
- Pub. 2007).
He has also taught his craft for example as a teaching
instructor at the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts in
the US.
 Some
of his original works can be viewed at many prestigious
institutions in the US such as at DuPont, AT&T,
Citibank & Chase Manhattan to name but a few. Other
works can be found in museums as far away as New Zealand.
He has collaborated with other artists in Gambia over
the years for example with Njogou Touray and the graphic
designer Lamin Marennah to create the Banjul AU Summit's
logo which was held in 2006.
He sees his works as an examination of images that instil
beliefs that are in line with his own cultural inheritance
and much of his productions are inspired by his own
childhood stories he heard while growing up as a youth
in Banjul. His paintings are created using watercolour
and acrylic paint and applied in his own distinct way
which clearly shows his individualistic approach to
his subjects.
He believes strongly in promoting the arts to local
schoolchildren as well as displaying the works of other
local talent which he selects for display at his Kyor
Gallery. He has also been attendant at the Art Educational
& Cultural Trust Civil Society Forum of the Gambia.
Contact Details:
See the 
Kyor
Art Gallery
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