Steve Bandoma studied at the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa before co-founding the avant-garde collective, Librisme Synergie. Bandoma's painting-collage hybrids reflect the energy and violence of the contemporary world. (Pictured: Je suis jeune, Cassius Clay series, 2014)
1. Steve Bandoma —
Steve Bandoma studied at the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa before co-founding the avant-garde collective, Librisme Synergie. Bandoma's painting-collage hybrids reflect the energy and violence of the contemporary world. (Pictured: Je suis jeune, Cassius Clay series, 2014)
Steve Bandoma/Florian Kleinefenn
Ambroise Ngaimako fled war in Angola and settled in Kinshasa where he eventually opened Studio 3Z. He mainly photographed young men -- athletes or sapeurs  -- but became known for his innovative photography. He often printed two negatives onto the same paper, or duplicated images using the same negative -- a novel approach at the time. (Pictured: Euphorie de deux jeunes qui se retrouvent, 1972)
2. Ambroise Ngaimako —
Ambroise Ngaimako fled war in Angola and settled in Kinshasa where he eventually opened Studio 3Z. He mainly photographed young men -- athletes or sapeurs  -- but became known for his innovative photography. He often printed two negatives onto the same paper, or duplicated images using the same negative -- a novel approach at the time. (Pictured: Euphorie de deux jeunes qui se retrouvent, 1972)
Ambroise Ngaimako/ Andre Morin
Born in 1980, Jean Paul Mika is the youngest of the 'Popular Painters' included in The Foundation Cartier's Beaute Congo exhibit. His characters are modeled after the type of studio portraits popular in 1960's Kinshasa. (Pictured: Kiese na Kiese, 2014)
3. Jean Paul Mika —
Born in 1980, Jean Paul Mika is the youngest of the 'Popular Painters' included in The Foundation Cartier's Beaute Congo exhibit. His characters are modeled after the type of studio portraits popular in 1960's Kinshasa. (Pictured: Kiese na Kiese, 2014)
JP Mika / Antoine de Roux
Kiripi Katembo uses photography and video to explore the urban environment. In 2009, he made the photographic series Un Regard, which depicts gritty Kinshasa through puddles. (Pictured: Subir, 2011)
4. Kiripi Katembo —
Kiripi Katembo uses photography and video to explore the urban environment. In 2009, he made the photographic series Un Regard, which depicts gritty Kinshasa through puddles. (Pictured: Subir, 2011)
Kiripi Katembo
Cheri Samba earned a living as a billboard painter and comic book artist before opening his own studio in 1975. He is often one of the subjects in his paintings, and often weaves in text in French and Lingala. (Pictured: Oui, il faut reflechir, 2014)
5. Cheri Samba —
Cheri Samba earned a living as a billboard painter and comic book artist before opening his own studio in 1975. He is often one of the subjects in his paintings, and often weaves in text in French and Lingala. (Pictured: Oui, il faut reflechir, 2014)
Cheri Samba / Andre Morina
Jean Depara captured the glamor of 1950s Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) in his photographs. He was the designated photographer for the the musician Franco, and enjoyed nightclubs in the late hours to snap people as they left. He also followed the Bills -- the term for young Congolese men from working class neighborhoods who styled themselves after actors from American Westerns. (Pictured: Untitled, c. 1955-65)
6. Jean Depara —
Jean Depara captured the glamor of 1950s Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) in his photographs. He was the designated photographer for the the musician Franco, and enjoyed nightclubs in the late hours to snap people as they left. He also followed the Bills -- the term for young Congolese men from working class neighborhoods who styled themselves after actors from American Westerns. (Pictured: Untitled, c. 1955-65)
Jean Deoara
A graduate of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, Jean-Bosco Kamba was famous for his rich, meticulous landscapes. He was particularly drawn to fishing scenes. (Pictured: Untitled, 1958)
7. Jean-Bosco Kamba —
A graduate of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, Jean-Bosco Kamba was famous for his rich, meticulous landscapes. He was particularly drawn to fishing scenes. (Pictured: Untitled, 1958)
Jean-Bosco Kamba/ Michael De Plaen
Albert Lubaki was one of Congo's earliest contemporary painters, creating works in the mid-1920s when Congo was still a Belgian colony. His is known for framing his images with an irregular frame, that help draw the eye to the scene at hand. (Pictured: Untitled, 1927)
8. Albert Lubaki —
Albert Lubaki was one of Congo's earliest contemporary painters, creating works in the mid-1920s when Congo was still a Belgian colony. His is known for framing his images with an irregular frame, that help draw the eye to the scene at hand. (Pictured: Untitled, 1927)
Albert Lubaki/ Fabrice Gousset
Sylvestre Kaballa was one of a dozen Congolese artists who achieved international fame in the 50s. A student of Frenchman Pierre Romain-Desfosses, Kaballa exhibited in Belgium, Paris, Rome, London at at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). (Pictured: Untitled, c. 1950)
9. Sylvestre Kaballa —
Sylvestre Kaballa was one of a dozen Congolese artists who achieved international fame in the 50s. A student of Frenchman Pierre Romain-Desfosses, Kaballa exhibited in Belgium, Paris, Rome, London at at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). (Pictured: Untitled, c. 1950)
Sylvestre Kaballa/ Michael De Plaen