River Niger

Malick Sidibe x agnes b Galerie Boutique Amadou Ballo New York's agnes b. Galerie Boutique marks it's 1 year anniversary with a special exhibition from Malian photographer, Malick Sidibe. The works capture the spontaneity of Malian street and nightlife spanning the 1960s and 1970s. Sibide lays claim to being the only photographer to have documented the flourishing period, with it's stylish youth who where emulating the new European and Cuban dances at the numerous dance parties held at clubs and the banks of the Niger River. Pictured above was one of the most prominent characters, couturier Amadou Ballo. The local youth competed weekly for the most fashionable outfit, in Ballo's contests, and each look was shot at Sibide's studio. Agnes b has repped Sibide since 1998 at her Paris Gallery, after initially connecting with him in 1995 through his exhibition at the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris. Since the 1970s, Sibide has been recognized internationally and his works have been incorporated in the collections of museums such as the MOMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. His countless awards include the Venice Biennale's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement (2007) and the International Center of Photography's Infinity Award for Lifetime Achievement (2008). ~ Mister Lee - Exhibition is on view through June 3, 2012 at: agnes b Galerie Boutique 50 Howard Street NYC 10013 Mon - Sat 11am - 7pm Sun 12pm - 6pm http://www.50howardstreet.com/

OWN magazine  4/18/2012 15:09 EDT