Meschac
Gaba

Meschac Gaba
MAVA-Musee d art / Procession view - Cotonou 17 dec 2010, 2010
Film (Edition of 5 + 1AP)
9 min 39 sec
© Barnabe Koudedo & ZKM

Meschac Gaba
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART, 2017
Tate Modern, Londres
© Tate Modern Londres

Meschac Gaba
Sharjah Biennial 2019
Procession Architectures Emirats Arabes Unis

Meschac Gaba
Burj Khalifa, Dubai, 2019
Artificial braided hair and metal structure
150 x 60 x 60 cm
Unique artwork
Courtesy Meschac Gaba & Galerie In Situ-fabienne leclerc, Grand Paris
© Thomas Lannes

Meschac Gaba
Exhibition view - Meschac Gaba, Musee National de l Histoire de l immigration, Paris, France, 2015
© Rebecca Fanuele
Courtesy l 'Artiste & Galerie In Situ - fabienne leclerc, Grand Paris

Meschac Gaba
Cayan Tower, Dubai, 2019
Artificial braided hair and metal structure
83 x 43 x 35 cm
Unique artwork
Courtesy Meschac Gaba & Galerie In Situ-fabienne leclerc, Grand Paris

Meschac Gaba
Exhibition view - oN/oFF, Centre Pompidou, Paris, 2016
Courtesy : Meschac Gaba & Galerie In Situ-fabienne leclerc, Grand Paris

Meschac Gaba
Valise diplomatique (Suisse - African Union), 2017
Wood, glass, Benin banknotes, textile flags
57 x 75 x 9 cm
Unique artwork
Courtesy Meschac Gaba & Galerie In Situ-fabienne leclerc, Grand Paris

Meschac Gaba
Valise diplomatique (Diamants indigenes), 2013
Wood, glass, Benin banknotes, imitation jewellery
55 x 75 x 11 cm
Unique artwork
© Thomas Lannes
Courtesy Meschac Gaba & Galerie In Situ-fabienne leclerc, Grand Paris

Meschac Gaba
Les frêres Wright, 2010-2011
( perruque MAVA-musée d'art de la vie active)
Braided Artificial hair and coins
55 x 57 x 62 cm
Unique artwork
© Marc Domage
Courtesy : Meschac Gaba & Galerie In Situ - fabienne leclerc, Grand Paris

Meschac Gaba
Kwame N'Krumah, 2010-2011
(perruque MAVA-musée d'art de la vie active)
Artificial braided hair, metal parts and mannequin bust
71 x 28 x 51 cm
Unique artwork
© Marc Domage / Courtesy Meschac Gaba & Galerie In Situ-fabienne leclerc, Grand Paris

1/11

Meschac Gaba was born in 1961 in Cotonou, Benin. He studied at the Rijksakademie voor Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam in 1996-97, and currently lives between Rotterdam and Cotonou

As if to question identity, the cultural difference and the postcolonial relations, the work of Meschac Gaba ranges from painting to sculpture, the structure, the recycled object or the model of cities made out of artificial braided hair.

Download the biography

EXHIBITION (SELECTION)

Solo exhibitions

2017
L'homme et l'argent, In Situ - fabienne leclerc, Paris, FR
Meschac Gaba,
Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York, US

2016
Bank or economy, Stevenson, Cape Town, ZA

2015
Architectures Sculptures, Musée de l'histoire de l'immigration, Le Palais de la Porte Dorée, Paris, FR

2014
Citoyen du Monde, Socrates Sculpture Park Broadway Billboard, Long Island New York, US
Meschac Gaba : Exchange Market, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York, US
Museum of Contemporary African Art, Deutsche Bank KunstHalle, Berlin, DE

2013
Pérégrination(s), commissaire Pascal Neveux, La Vieille Charité, Marseille, FR
Le Monde, Stevenson, Le Cap, ZA
Museum of Contemporary African Art, TATE Modern, Londres, UK

2012  
Perruques voitures & Archéologie contemporaine, In Situ - fabienne leclerc , Paris, FR
Meschac Gaba: Lac de Sagesse ? Wisdom Lake, Lumen Travo Gallery, Amsterdam, NL

2011
Souvenir Palace, Lumen Travo Gallery, Amsterdam, NL

2010
Performance parade and exhibition of the Perruques Historiques et Horloges des Independants, City of Cotonou and Financial Banque, MAVA Cotonou, Cotonou, BJ
Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderne, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, ES
 
2009
Meschac Gaba. The Street - Car Tresses - Couleurs de Cotonou,Gallery Michael Stevenson, Capetown, ZA
Meschac Gaba. Museum of Contemporary African Art & More (travelling solo exhibition) Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel, DE
Meschac Gaba: Sweetness, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, CN
Meschac Gaba, Museum of Contemporary African Art & More Museum De Paviljoens, Almere, NL

2008
solo performance on different locations in the city of Cotonou: Parade Perruques Voitures à Cotonou - Cotonou, BJ
Meschac Gaba, Trace, Couleur Locale du mur à la toile, Gallery Lumen Travo, Amsterdam, NL
Glück, Welches Glück, (Gaba was artistic director of this exhibition) Deutsches Hygiene Museum, Dresden, DE
Meschac Gaba, Couleurs de Cotonou du mur à la toile, Centre Culturel Français de Cotonou, BJ

2007
Tresses: Meschac Gaba,Michael Stevenson Gallery, Cape Town, SZ
Meschac Gaba: Tresses + other recent projects, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, SZ
Meschac Gaba, Sweetness, Galleria Continua, San Gimignano, Italy

2006
Tresses: Meschac Gaba, Street performance in IVA, London, UK
Défilé de perruques, Street performance , Paris, FR
Meschac Gaba. Glue Me Peace, Nobel Peace Center, Oslo, NO

2005
Museum of Contemporary African Art - Library of the Museum BiblioNova, Geleen, NL
Glue Me Peace, Tate Modern, London, UK
Le Pain Migrateur. Meschac Gaba, Artra Gallery, Milano, IT
Meschac Gaba: Tresses, The Studio Museum, Harlem, New York, US
Peace Maker. Meschac Gaba, Lumen Travo Gallery, Amsterdam, NL

2004
Meschac Gaba, Peace Maker,  Ernest G. Welch School of Arts & Design, Gallery of the Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, US

2003
Atlantique. Meschac Gaba, Lumen Travo Gallery, Amsterdam, NL

2002
Museum of Contemporary African Art - Library of the Museum Falaki Gallery, American University of Cairo, EG
Museum of Contemporary African Art - Museum Shop for Sale and Museum Living Room for Sale Artra Gallery, Milan and Genova, IT
Museum of Contemporary African Art - La Discothèque du Musée SBK Tramremise (Stichting Beeldende Kunst), Amsterdam, NL
Museum of Contemporary African Art - Le Salon du Musée , Palais de Tokyo, Paris, FR

2001
Museum of Contemporary African Art - Marriage Room: Meschac Gaba INOVA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Museum of Contemporary African Art - Library of the Museum, Witte de With, , Rotterdam, NL
Der Inforaum /The Info-room. Meschac Gaba,Kunsthalle Bern, CH, The Info-room. Meschac Gaba

2000
Museum of Contemporary African Art: Salle de JeuxS.M.A.K. Gent, BE
Museum of Contemporary African Art: Game Room, Crown Gallery, Brussels, BE
Spielregeln/ Rules of the Game. Meschac Gaba, Galerie Gebauer, Berlin, DE
 
1999
Museum of Contemporary African Art: Summer Collection, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, NL
Museum of Contemporary African Art: Salle de Jeux, Le Pavé Dans La Mare, Besançon, FR
Museum of Contemporary African Art: Museum Restaurant, W139, Amsterdam, NL
Vente en gros et detaille, Lumen Travo Gallery, Amsterdam, NL,

1998
Museum of Contemporary African Art: Draft Room, Praterinsel, Munich, DE
Museum of Contemporary African Art: Draft Room, De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam, NL
Museum of Contemporary African Art: Architecture of the Museum, Gate Foundation, Amsterdam, NL
Meschac Gaba, SBK knsm-eiland, Amsterdam, NL

1997
Moneta Exotica. Oorspronkelijk geld uit de hele wereld - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Draft Room, Rijksmuseum Het Koninklijk Penningkabinet, Leiden, NL
Tropenmuseum, Bazar Bizar, Amsterdam, NL

1995
Palace of the President of Bénin, art festival Pour la Francophonie, Cotonou, BJ

1993
Galerie Ife, Biennale de Dakar, Dakar, SN

1991
Meschac Gaba, Centre Culturelle Français de Cotonou, BJ
 
Duo show

2010
Meschac Gaba - Perruques Architecture & Tania Bruguera - Poetic Justice, CeSAC Centro Sperimentale per le Arti Contemporanee, Caraglio, IT

2006
Meschac Gaba / Hermann Pitz -  Tresses, Galerie Fernand Leger, Ivry, Paris, FR

2001
Ensemble: Michel François & Meschac Gaba, Galerie Lumen Travo, Amsterdam, NL
 
Group exhibitions

2024
Donner Corps, Fondation Datris, France

2023
Guest Relations, Jameel Arts Centre, Dubaï, UAE

2021
Spring, Fondation Thalie, Bruxelles, BE
Un Monde inquiet et des hommes sauvages,
Kaoshing Museum of Fine Arts, TW
Ce qui s'oublie et ce qui reste, Palais de la Porte Dorée, Paris, FR

2020
Et maintenant, le dessin..., In Situ - Fabienne Leclerc, Romainville, FR
The Return of the Real, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, NYC, USA
Songs in the Dark, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, NYC, USA

2019
Leaving the Echo Chamber, Sharjah Biennial 14, UAE

2018
Voyage au long cour, FRAC Normandie Caen, Caen, FR
Enchanted bodies / Fetish for Freedom,
GAMeC ? Galleria d?Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Bergame, IT
Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design
, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas, US
Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, Nouveau-Mexique, US
 
2017
Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design
, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Géorgie, US
En marge, In Situ - fabienne leclerc, Paris, FR

2016
Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design, Kunsthal Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL
Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design, CCCB Barcelona, Barcelone, ES
ON/OFF, Espace prospectif, galerie 0, curatrice Alicia Knock, Centre Pompidou, Paris, FR
Museum of Contemporary African Art [selections], Tate Switch House, London, UK
Afrika 010, Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam, NL
We Call It Ludwig, Museum Ludwig, Cologne, DE

2015
Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design, Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, ES
Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design, Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, DE
In We trust: Are and Money, Musée d'Art Colombus, US
ATOPOLIS: Curator Dirk Snauwaert, Wiels at mons2015, BE
Liberated Subjects : Present Tense, Fondation De 11 Lijnen, Oudenburg, BE
Global Imaginations, Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden, NL
Salon Style, Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, US

2014
Global Imaginations, Museum de Lakenhal,  Leiden, NL
The Value of Nothing, Tent Rotterdam, NL
Biennale de Busan, KR
Biennale de Cafa ARt Museum, Pekin , CN

2013
When attitudes became form become attitudes, Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit, US
Utopia starts small, 12th Fellbach Small Sculpture Triennial 2013, Fellbach, DE

2012
Liebe tond und teufel, Von der Heydt Kunsthalle, Wuppertal, DE
When attitudes became form become attitudes, Wattis Institute, San Francisco, US
Biennale du Benin, BJ
Through an open window (Collection Rabobank), Institut Néerlandais, Paris, FR
When attitudes became form become attitudes, CCA Wattis institute, San Francisco CA, US
Triennal , Palais de Tokyo, Paris (curator Okwui Enwezor), FR

2011
Art Worlds after 1989,Museum of contemporary Art, Global contemporary, , Karlsruhe, DE
(Re-) Cycles of Paradise, Pollution Business, Science Museum of Morelos in Cuernavaca, Mexico, MX
Tijdelijk Verblijf - Safety Rat, Castle Oud-Rekem, BE

2010
Souvenir Palace, Liverpool Biennial, UK
Perruques Voitures, IIIème Festival Mondial des Arts Nègres Modernité + Résistances / Aux Souffles du Monde, Dakar, SN
 
2009
GAMeC, Esposizione Universale, Bergamo, IT
Diplomatique - Couleurs Locales, Kunstuitleen Den Helder, Licht aan Zee AA, NL
Cape 09 (performance and installation), Capetown, SZ

2008
Africa Now! Emerging talents from a continent on the move - Tresses, World Bank (World Bank Art Program), Washington DC, US
Carried Away. Procession in Art - Tresses, Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Arnhem, NL
Résilience - Tresses, Galleria Continua/Le Moulin, Boissy-le-Châtel, FR
Port City: On Mobility and Change - Sweetness, AFoundation, Liverpool, UK
Biennale Cuvée - Sweetness, oK Center for Contemporary Art, Linz, AT
 
2007
Port City: On Mobility and Change - Sweetness, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton, UK
Port City: On Mobility and Change - Sweetness, Arnolfini Contemporary Art Center, Bristol, UK
Africa Remix - Boulangerie Africaine, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, SZ
Keep the Change - Tresses, Nathan Cummings Foundation, New York, US

2006
How to Live Together - Sweetness and Museum Shop, Sao Paolo Biennale, Sao Paulo, BR
Fever Variations - Tresses, 6th  Gwangju Biennale, KR
Contact Zones - La Maison, Sydney Biennale, Sydney, AU
second edition of De Kleine Biënnale (Biennial for children) - Qui Veut Cajoux, Je Veux Cajoux, Fort op de Ruigenhoeksedijk, Utrecht, NL
Afrika Remix - Boulangerie Africaine, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, JP
Biennale of Havana - Tresses, Havana, CU
Global Tour - Tresses, W139, Amsterdam, NL
Respect! Formes de cohabitation - Peace Maker, Musée Dar Si Saïd, Marrakech, MA

2005
War is over 1945 - 2005 La Libertà dellarte da Picasso a Warhol a Cattelan, GAMeC Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo, IT
Overtures - on Water - Water Village, Art Circolo Kunstprojekt, Munich, DE
Proposal competition project Trace of a Structure of Ideas: Archaeology of a Utopia in the Hardau - proposal Embassy, Zurich, CH
Africa Remix - Boulangerie Africaine, Hayward Gallery, London, UK
Identità & Nomadismo, Palazzo delle Papesse Centro Arte Contemporanea, Milan, IT
Africa Remix - Boulangerie Africaine, Centre George Pompidou, Paris, FR
Monuments for the USA - Peace Mountain, Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco, US
Dressing Ourselves curated by Alessandro Guerriero - Meschac Gaba, La Triennale di Milano, IT

2004
Horizons. Voices from a Global Africa - Rules of the Game, Museum of World Cultures, Göteborg, SE
Economies, Art and Gallery, Milano, IT
Strange Planet - Peace Maker and Thrift Store Collection, Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design Gallery of the Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, US
The Fiction of Authenticity - Contemporary Archeology, Miller Gallery of the Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, US
Lustwarance 04, City Park project - Monument for the anonym artist and the anonym visitor, Fundament Foundation, Tilburg, NL
Africa Remix - Boulangerie Africaine, Kunstpalast, Dusseldor, DE
Visa For Thirteen, International Studio Program exhibition - Peace Maker, PS1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY, US
Les Afriques - Poulet Morgue, Le Tri Postal, Lille/Cultural Capital of Europe, Lille, FR
We Are The World / Rotterdam Edition of Dutch Pavillion at Venice Biennale - Ginger Bar, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, NL
Open Studios - Tresses, PS1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY, US

2003
The Fiction of Authenticity - Contemporary Archeology, Forum of Contemporary Art, St. Louis, Missouri, US
Water - Water Village, Amsterdamse Duinwaterleidingen, Amsterdam, NL
Exhibition of Exhibitions - Democracy Game, Casey Kaplan Gallery, New York, US
We Are The World - Ginger Bar, Dutch Pavillion, Venice Biennale, Venice, IT
Plasticiens en Mouvement / Kunstenaars in Beweging - Origine du Monde, De Markten, Brussels, BE

2002
Artists Games, Public's Games , Kunstverein Ulm, DE
Dokumenta11 - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Library of the Museum, Museum Shop and Humanist Space, Kassel, DE
Geld und Wert / Das letzte Tabu (curated by Harald Szeemann) - Museum Shop, Schweizerische Nationalbank, Biel, CH
 
2001
Democracy Game, Helsinki, FI
International Art Fair - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Museum Shop, Art /32/ Basel, CH
Locus/Focus - Palace of Eternity, Sonsbeek 2001 (9), Arnhem, NL
Geldlust: ModellBanking - Money Tree, Kunsthalle Tirol, Hall in Tirol, AT
Design proposal for National Slavery Monument - Slave Route, City Hall Amsterdam, NL
Réalité Revisitée: Expérimenter le Réel - Atlantique, Cimaise & Portique centre departmental d'art contemporain, Albi, FR
Mirror's Edge - Museum of Contemporary African Art, Tramway, Glasgow, GB
Red Ribbon Art - Money Box, Groninger Museum, Groningen, NL

2000
Mirror's Edge - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Architecture of the Museum, Castello di Rivoli, Turin, IT
For Real - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Marriage Room, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NL
The Sky is the Limit - Meschac Gaba Made in Taiwan, Fine Arts Museum, Taipei Biennale, Taipei, TW
L'Art dans le Monde - Pain et Marteaux, Paris Musées/Revue des Beaux Arts, Pont Alexandre III, Paris, FR,
East/International - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Draft Room, Norwich Gallery, Norwich, UK
Witte de With, Play-use - Game Room, Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, NL
A Casa Di - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Art and Religion Room, Cittadellarte/Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella, IT
Continental Shift. A voyage between cultures - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Le Discothèque du Musée, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, NL
Dialogues - Museum Shop - Lumen Travo Gallery, Amsterdam, ARCO, Art fair, Madrid, ES
Worthless (invaluable). The concept of value in contemporary art - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Draft Room, Moderna Galerija, Ljubljana, SI
NoTitle, Lumen Travo Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
Mirror's Edge - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Architecture of the Museum, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, CA
Chess Game - Museum of Contemporary African Art: (part of) Game Room - Galerie Gebauer, Berlin, Art Basel, Basel, CH

1999
Mirror's Edge - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Architecture of the Museum, Bildmuseet, Umeå, SE
South Meets West - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Museum Shop, National Museum of Ghana, Accra, GH
Waardige Zaken. Wonderkamers - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Summer Collection, De Nieuwe Vide, Haarlem, NL,
Casino, Le Pavé Dans La Mare, Besançon, FR
TroubleSpot.Painting - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Draft Room, NICC and MUHKA, Antwerp, BE
Trafique - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Museum Shop, S.M.A.K. extra muros, Ghent, BE
National Museum Weekend - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Architecture of the Museum, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, NL
Unlimited.nl-2 - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Architecture of the Museum, De Appel Foundation, Amsterdam, NL

1998
Copy Culture. 40 Jaar Amsterdams Grafisch Atelier, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL,
Meeting Point, Lumen Travo Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
NICC, curated by Michel François, Annvers, BE

1997
Open Ateliers - Museum of Contemporary African Art: Draft Room, Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, Amsterdam, NL
Blueprint, De Appel Foundation, Amsterdam, NL
Virtual exhibition, africaserver.nl
 
1996
Rasa Foundation, Utrecht, NL
Open Ateliers, Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, NL,

1995
Ewole, Lome, TG
German Embassy, Cotonou, BJ

1994
On the occasion of the top Africa/America, Libreville, Gabon
Biennale d'Abidjan, Abidjan, CI
Chinese Cultural Center, Cotonou, BJ
Galerie GO, Cotonou, BJ

1993
American Cultural Center, Cotonou, BJ

1992
S.O.S. Artistes, Arts sur 7, Halle des Sports, Cotonou, BJ
Musée des Arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie, Paris, FR
 
Bibliographies

Monographies

2010
Meschac Gaba, Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Museum De Paviljoens, Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, Köln

2005
Meschac Gaba: Tresse. The Studio Museum, New York.

2001
Library of the Museum / Bibliothèque du Musée. Vol. 1, Museum of Contemporary African Art, Artimo Foundation, Amsterdam.

Essays

2001
Dongen, Alexandra van and Meschac Gaba. Habitación de Matrimonio / Marriage Room. Atlantica, no. 30, Oct.

Exhibition catalogs, art books, DVD's

2013
Meschac Gaba: Museum of Contemporary African Art. Tate Publishing, 2013

2007
Meschac Gaba, Tresses + other recent projects. Michael Stevenson Gallery, Cape Town/South Africa and Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2007.

2006
How To Live Together. 27th Biennale de Sao Paulo, Brasil, 2006.
Fever Variations. 6th Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju, South Korea, 2006.
Zones of contact. 15th Biennale of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2006.

2005
Lorenzo, Fusi. Identità & Nomadismo.Palazzo delle Papesse Centro Arte Contemporanea. Silvana Editoriale Spa, Milan, Italy, 2005.
Rugoff, Ralph. Monuments for the USA, California College of the Arts/Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco, US, 2005
Bremer, Jaap and Marieke van Schijndel. Unlocked # 2. Rabo kunstcollectie / art collection, Rabobank Nederland, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2005
Expérimenter le reel/réalité revisitée, Albi, France, 2005.

2004
Intruders : Reflections on Art and the Ethnological Museum. National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden, Netherlands, 2004.
Strange Planet. Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design Gallery, Georgia State University & Saltworks Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 2004.
Visa for Thirteen, PS1 International Studio Program Exhibition. PS1/MoMa Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY, United States, 2004.
Op Hoogte Gedacht. Beeldende Kunst op Groninger Kerkhoven. Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken, Groningen, Netherlands. 2004

2003
Water. Amsterdamse Duinwaterleidingen, Amsterdam, Netherland, 2003.
Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy, 2003.
We Are The World, Dutch Pavillion Venice Biennale. Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2003.

2002
Le Salon du Musée. Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France, 2002.

2001
Locus/Focus. Sonsbeek 9, Arnhem, Netherlands, 2001.
 
2000
For Real. Een voorstel tot Gemeentelijke Kunstaankopen / A Proposal for Municipal Art Acquisitions, 1999/2000. Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2000.
The Sky is the Limit, Taipei Biennale. Taipei, Taiwan, 2000.
East/International. Norwich Gallery, Norwich, United Kingdom, 2000.
Continental Shift. A Voyage between Cultures, Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht, Netherlands - Music Room, Netherland, 2000.
"Perché ? (belongs to the future). Because art doesn't change the world, it shapes the world ?". Magazzino d'Arte Moderna, Nr. 1, curated by Giacinto Di Pietrantonio, Rome, Italy, 2000.

1999
Trafique: S.M.A.K extra muros. Ghent, Belgium, 1999.
Waardige Zaken. 14 Wonderkamers in Noord-Holland van beeldende kunstenaars, De Nieuwe Vide. Haarlem, Netherlands, 1999.
Mirror's Edge. Bildmuseet, Umeå, Sweden, 1999.
South Meets West. National Museum of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, i.c.w, 1999.
Kunsthalle/Historische Museum, Bern, Switzerland, 1999.
Unlimited.nl-2. De Appel Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1999.
TroubleSpot.Painting. NICC and MUHKA, Antwerp, Belgium, 1999.

1998
Copy Culture. 40 Jaar Amsterdams Grafisch Atelier. Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1998.

1997
Moneta Exotica : Oorspronkelijk geld uit de hele wereld. Rijksmuseum Het Koninklijk Penningkabinet, Leiden, Netherlands, 1997.
De Appel, Blueprint (Hong Kong Project), 1997.

Publications/ Reviews

2000
"L'Art dans le Monde", Paris Musées/Revue des Beaux Arts, Paris, France, 2000.

Education

1996-1997
Rijksakademie voor Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, NL

1981-1985
Student at the artist studio of Zossou Gratien, Cotonou, BJ

Artist's residencies

2006
Recife, Brazil, in preparation of the Biennale de Sao Paulo

2005
Couvent des Récollets, Paris, FR

2003-2004
P.S.1/MoMA Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, New York, US

Awards

2002
Will Grohmann Preis 2002 - Akademie der Künste, Berlin, DE
AICA Award 2002 - International Association of Art Critiques, NL

1999
Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Award

PUBLIC COLLECTION

Centre Pompidou, Paris, FR
Pérez Art Museum Miami, US
Studio Museum Harlem, NYC, US
CNAP National collection, FR
FRAC Basse Normandie, FR
FRAC Réunion, FR
TATE Modern, London, UK
Musee de l'histoire de l'immigration, Paris, FR

Publications

  • L'homme et l'argent
    Francesca Cozzolino : L'homme et l'argent
    Galerie In Situ-fabienne leclerc, Grand Paris
    October 2017
  • Meschac Gaba
    Francesca Cozzolino : Meschac Gaba
    FRAC PACA
    October 2013
  • Meschac Gaba - Museum of contemporary african art
    Meschac Gaba - Museum of contemporary african art
    Tate publishing
    July 2013
  • LE MONDE
    LE MONDE
    STEVENSON
    July 2013
  • The Global Contemporary and the Rise of New Art Worlds
    Andrea Buddensieg : The Global Contemporary and the Rise of New Art Worlds
    Hans Belting, Andrea Buddensieg and Peter Weibel
    May 2013
  • Meschac Gaba
    Stephan Müller : Meschac Gaba
    Rein Wolfs / Walther König, Köln
    August 2010
  • The street
    The street
    Michael Stevenson
    October 2009
  • MESCHAC GABA - Tresses+other recent projects
    MESCHAC GABA - Tresses+other recent projects
    Michael Stevenson and the Johannesburg Art Gallery
    January 2007
  • AFRICA REMIX
    Simon Njami : AFRICA REMIX
    Centre Pompidou
    May 2005
  • TRESSES
    TRESSES
    The Studio Museum in Harlem, NY
    January 2005
  • We Are The World
    Nina Folkersma : We Are The World
    Artimo Foundation - Biennale di Venezia - Dutch Pavilion
    May 2003
  • Meschac Gaba - Library of the museum
    Meschac Gaba - Library of the museum
    Artimo Foundation Museum of contemporary african art
    May 2001