FRANCIS MBELLA, A LIFE IN ART
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FRANCIS MBELLA, A LIFE IN ART |
Francis Mbella embodies a rare essence, a depth that speaks before the brush even touches the canvas. Unveil the journey of the artist.
“Art is not only what I create, it is what remains in the hearts of those who encounter it.”
Francis Mbella
There is in Francis Mbella a rare stillness, a depth that speaks before the brush even touches the canvas.
He was born in Douala in 1961, into a universe already steeped in artistry. The son of a sculptor-painter and a mother devoted to fashion design, creativity coursed through his veins long before he ever held a brush.
From the very beginning, Francis revealed a rare sensibility, never through display, always through depth. While the city pulsed with rhythm, movement, and sound, he turned inward, seeking harmony with nature. There, time would dissolve as he immersed himself in creation, each gesture an exploration, each moment a pursuit of meaning and inspiration. For him, creation was never an escape. It was a dialogue with the world and the truest way to exist.
His talent quickly drew attention and earned him a place at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. There, Francis Mbella went beyond refinement to establish a singular artistic identity.
He united the mastery of classical oil painting with the raw unpredictability of tapioca. From this fusion emerged his signature: the Tapioca Reliefs, a process where matter itself becomes language, giving his works singular depth and texture, where substance speaks as art.
The result is a surface both luminous and profound, sculpted and refined, capturing light and energy in ways that feel alive, resonant, unforgettable. Each canvas goes beyond representation, becoming an echo of emotions and unfolding as an experience of sensation and harmony.
“Creation is the only true luxury. Timeless, intimate, eternal”
Francis Mbella
“Texture is my language, color is my voice.”
Francis Mbella
There is in Francis Mbella an unshakable presence, a quiet force. A discipline so rare it feels timeless, almost ancestral. Every brushstroke unfolds as meditation, he paints silences, secrets, and echoes. While the world rushes forward, Francis chooses depth. The singularity of his art, the pursuit of excellence and refinement, has earned him a distinguished place among the most prestigious circles of contemporary art.
Today, his paintings grace the walls of major collectors and influential figures across Europe, Africa, and America.
His visionary artworks have graced over 100 exhibitions and conferences worldwide, from the cultural capitals of Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, to the vibrant scenes of Los Angeles, Miami, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, La Havana, Cape Town. His vision has carried him from the introspetive corners of childhood to the most respected institutions and private collections in contemporary art.
Yet Francis Mbella remains true to the boy he once was: profoundly intuitive, fearlessly creative and guided by a timeless artistic vision.