Born in 1980, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Lives and works in France
Jean-Paul Nsimba Mika became interested in drawing at the age of 13. He began by decorating the walls of shops, copying movie posters, and painting in bars where the colored lights—blue, red, yellow—gave him a sense of the power of color. In 2005, he enrolled in painting at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa, graduating in 2007. Around this time, he started frequenting the studio of artist Chéri Chérin, who became his “master”:
“The professors wanted to steer us toward abstraction, but that didn’t appeal to me… For me, there was no emotion. I had heard of the ‘popular artist’ Chéri Chérin, but had never met him. One evening, by chance, I found myself sitting next to him in a taxi going to Masina, the ‘quartier 1 sans fil’ where we lived. After that meeting, I would visit him at night after my classes and eventually became his assistant.”
Under Chérin’s guidance, Mika perfected his technique and joined the APPO, the Association of Popular Painters. In 2004, he established his own studio, EBA (Événement des Beaux-Arts). Gradually, Mika emancipated himself from Chérin, moving away from narrative painting toward simplified compositions. He began using highly colorful backgrounds, painting on patterned fabrics that evoke vintage wallpaper:
“In my painting, there are no crime stories, no political messages, no critique. Life already has too many hardships and difficulties. That’s why I want people to always feel hope in my paintings.”
Mika often places himself within his works, creating self-portraits or integrating himself into group compositions. In recent years, he has developed a distinctive style centered on portraiture, simplifying staging and using vibrant patterned fabrics as backgrounds. This innovation, combined with his masterful use of color, gives his work a unique energy that sets it apart from his peers. His highly realistic compositions remain tender and benevolent; no matter the subject, Mika depicts a modern, dynamic, and joyful Africa.
He draws inspiration from daily life in Kinshasa and its inhabitants, as well as from historical events such as his country’s independence. Motivated by his faith in God, Mika expresses joy through themes of love and laughter. In response to the “difficulties and hardships of life,” this joy evokes a certain utopia: his floral canvases convey pure happiness, reflecting the gentle, positive energy of contemporary Africa. The celebration of life and being is present both in his vibrant colors and in the figure of the sapeur, the mystical embodiment of a lively Kinshasa.
Collections
Collection Astrup Fearnley Museet, Oslo, Norway
Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris, France
C.A.A.C. - The Pigozzi Collection, Geneva, Switzerland
Farida & Henri Seydoux Collection
Fondation Blachère, Apt, France
Fondation Alliances, Casablanca, Morocco
