The Menil Collection opened their reinstalled African Galleries on April 11. Approximately 100 objects highlighting the human form are on view in the new space, many of which have never before been displayed at the Menil Collection. Examples include a Dogon mother and child figure, a terracotta from the Inland Delta of Mali, and a Kongo power figure. The reinstallation expresses the celebration of existence in African culture and explores the diversity and contrast found in African art, with objects ranging from miniature to life-size, abstract to naturalistic, male to female, and familiar to foreign.

The Royal Ontario Museum opened the Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Gallery of Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific this spring, displaying a collection of objects that spans close to 2,000 years. The African division features over 400 objects originating from all over the continent. The Americas are represented by objects ranging from the ancient Nasca culture to twentieth century material, including costumes, basketry, and ceramics. The Asia-Pacific section presents approximately 300 objects, with examples from the Ainu, Filipinos from the islands of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, and many more. Oceanic holdings include material from the Massim and Sepik cultures of Papua New Guinea, Maori wood carvings, and contemporary Aboriginal bark paintings.
Also this spring, the ROM opened the Patricia Harris Gallery of Textiles & Costume, which showcases the highlights of the museum’s own extensive collection.

Following its successful sale of tribal art in autumn 2007, Bonhams New York will put a group of more than 200 African and Oceanic objects before the bidders on May 15. Among the lots will be 25 African pieces from the venerable Bohlen collection, which is renowned for its quality.

On May 16, Sotheby's New York will present a sale of almost 200 tribal objects from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, with a primary focus on African sculpture, masks, and regalia. The roughly 30 pre-Columbian lots will emphasize figural ceramics from Mexico, while the similarly-sized Oceanic group will comprise a variety of objects from greater Melanesia.
An exhibition will precede the sale, beginning on May 10.

View the online catalogue

Tribal art expert Bernard de Grunne presents a selection of African and Oceanic objects.

L&M Arts Gallery
45 East 78th street
New York City
Tel: 212-861-0020
www.lmgallery.com

Beginning May 15, the city of New York will host the International Tribal & Textile Arts Show, a four-day salon featuring nearly 75 ethnographic art dealers from around the world. The event is being held this year in a new location at the Gramercy Park Armory, situated at Lexington Avenue and 26th Street.

View the event website

This exhibition presents a collection of masks sourced from the Musée National des Arts et Traditions du Gabon. Endowed with undeniably beautiful plastic qualities, the masks transmit the ritual history of various peoples of central Africa. Due to popular acclaim, the exhibition has been lengthened by almost two months.

Musée de l'Hôtel-Dieu

Over the course of three years and nine sojourns in Africa, photographer Hans Silvester, accompanied by a guide and two interpreters, documented the lives of the Hamer, Mursi, Surma, Bume, and Karo tribes. The photographs featured in this exhibition, depicting returns of hunting parties, groups of children, parades, and more, offer a glimpse into the everyday events of unknown Africa while portraying the artistic lives of these peoples, with their emphasis on human bodies, painted faces, and inventive and sophisticated hairstyles.

Musée de l'Hôtel-Dieu

This spring, Sotheby's presents a sale dedicated to Native American arts. Originating from many regions across North America, the objects to be offered include masks, weapons, beadwork, clothing, blankets, sculpture, and more.

www.sothebys.com

GAÎA S.A.S. will present two sales of tribal art at the Fondation Dosne-Thiers in Paris on May 26 & 27. The sale of May 26 will feature over 130 ethnographic objects from Africa, Oceania, and Indonesia, with an emphasis on African statuettes, masks, and weaponry. The sale of May 27 will be dedicated to pre-Columbian antiquities, featuring some 115 works in stone, ceramic, gold, and jade from Central and South America.

View the African, Oceanic, and Indonesian catalogue
View the pre-Columbian catalogue

Fondation Dosne-Thiers
27 place Saint Georges
75009 Paris
Tel: 01 48 70 23 50