Some gifts are opened, admired and forgotten by spring. Others stay in a home for decades, on the same console, catching the same morning light. This guide is about the second kind.
Every piece below is made by hand: bronzes cast by lost wax in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and textured paintings made to order on linen canvas. None of them comes off a production line, and each bronze exists only once.
Under $700: a first piece of African art
A small bronze is the easiest way to give African art. It fits on a shelf, a desk or a bedside table, and it does not require knowing the recipient's walls.
- The Ballerina 11, $590. A ballerina balancing on one foot, the other knee drawn up, arms opening to the sides. For someone who danced, or still does.
- The Ballerina 12, $590. On her toes, feet together, one arm curved above her head.
- The Muse 02, $620. An African woman in a headwrap, absorbed in her reading. A gift for a book lover.
- The Muse 03, $650. A slender silhouette in dark bronze, a bag in one hand.
- The Muse 01, $690. Long braids, a fitted blue gown, a book in her hands.
- The Dancing Muse 13, $690. Arms above her head, her ochre dress swirling.
Gifts for a mother or a family
Some of our bronzes are about the bonds that hold a family together.
- The Muse 25, $720. A mother in gold, holding her child by the hand.
- The Muse 26, $695. A mother in red with a large headwrap, two children at her sides.
- The Muse 27, $695. A mother in turquoise, her child beside her.
- Mama IFE, $1,489. A Maasai mother with spear and shield, standing beside her daughter.
Gifts for a couple
- The Biking Couple, $995. Two figures riding a bicycle side by side: a wedding or anniversary gift with a smile in it.
- Pamoja 02, $2,495. A couple embracing, she in a long green gown holding a red flower. Pamoja means "together" in Swahili.
A painting for their wall, from $340
A painting is a more personal gift, because it depends on a wall. Our textured paintings are made to order in seven sizes, so you can choose one that fits the room. Prices start at $340.
- African Woman Carrying a Basket on Her Head. Gold and white, luminous in a neutral room.
- Entwined Elephant Trunks. Grey and charcoal relief, a symbol of bond and family.
- Woman on Horseback in White Dress. Minimal and elegant, for a refined interior.
Not sure about the size? Our guide African Wall Art for the Living Room explains how to choose.
The statement gift
For a milestone, a new home or a lifetime collector:
- The Muse 32, $4,745. A seated woman in a green gele and draped gown, with gold jewellery.
- Wazee Watatu, $9,990. "The three sages" in Swahili: three elders draped in hand-dyed fabric, on a base of carved wood and bronze.
- Bapaya Motamboli, $9,990. "The foreign travellers" in Lingala: three figures setting out together.
Order in time for the holidays
Bronzes ship from our partner and arrive in 8 to 15 business days. Paintings are made to order: painting takes one to two weeks, and most orders arrive within three to three and a half weeks.
For delivery before Christmas, we recommend ordering by December 1. If you are short on time, write to us at contact@umojastudio.fr before ordering, and we will tell you honestly what is possible.