SEBASTIEN BOKO

Born in 1984 in Agonli Covè, Benin, Sébastien Boko embraced the art of sculpture through cooptation, one of Africa's oldest and most esteemed methods of learning. Trained by his father, himself a sculptor, Boko honed his craft over the years, combining wood, metal, and paint to create works where forms and movements transcend humanity, imbuing it with a divine-like majesty.
Recognized for his exceptional talent, Sébastien Boko has received numerous prestigious awards: in 2012, he won the gold prize at the National Wood Sculpture Competition organized by the International Wood Culture Society in Cotonou, Benin; in 2013, he was honored with the Strongest Content award for African sculptors in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and in 2015, he received the Council of Entente Prize.
Boko’s work has been exhibited both in Benin and internationally. He participated in World Wood Day events in Tanzania (2013), China (2014), Turkey (2016), and Austria (2019). In 2017, he showcased his art at the International Wood Sculpture Symposium in Brienz, Switzerland, as well as at the inaugural International Wood Sculpture Symposium in Libreville, Gabon. Most recently, in 2020, he exhibited at the “Africa Now” exhibition at the Open Art Exchange International Art Center in Schiedam, Netherlands.
His acclaimed series, such as Africa Miss, Transcendance, and Egungun, draw deeply from Beninese history and African cultures. Through these works, Boko explores universal themes: femininity, the legacy of masks, and the coexistence of autonomous realities that define our existence.
Guided by an artistic vision that is both bold and profoundly humanistic, Sébastien Boko invites viewers to engage with creations that are timeless yet deeply rooted in African cultural heritage. His works celebrate the beauty of humanity and the spiritual legacy of the cultures that have shaped it.