Ndary Lo

Biography

Ndary Lo, A Visionary and Committed Sculptor

The Story of Ndary Lo

Born in 1961 in Rufisque, Senegal, Ndary Lo grew up in a large and creative family. Deeply influenced from a young age by the work of local artisans, he learned the value of craftsmanship early on, particularly through a blacksmith who introduced him to the art of shaping metal.

A graduate of the National School of Fine Arts in Dakar, Ndary Lo developed an artistic practice focused on the human being, exploring universal themes through raw and often reclaimed materials. He quickly became a leading figure on the African and international art scene, recognized for his unique ability to express the human condition in all its complexity.

His powerful vision earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Grand Prix Léopold Sédar Senghor at the Dakar Biennale in both 2002 and 2008, His work transcended geographical and cultural boundaries with rare depth.

Ndary Lo’s Artistic Vision

At the heart of Ndary Lo’s work lies an unlikely material : construction rebar. With this industrial, weathered, often rusted metal, he conveyed both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit, all while embracing an ecological approach.

His iconic sculptures, particularly his famous Walking Men and Standing Women, embody a profound exploration of movement, time, and human perseverance. These tall, slender, streamlined figures, seem rooted in the earth, yet they give off a feeling of lightness and perpetual motion.

Through these forms, Ndary Lo offered a transcendent vision of humanity, always in evolution, caught between grounding and elevation. His choice of rusted, imperfect iron, was no accident, it symbolizes vulnerability, as well as transformation, and the human ability to endure.

The Themes behind His Sculptures

Ndary Lo’s work is a journey through physical, and spiritual motion.

His Walking Men, long, lean figures in constant movement, are a metaphor for life’s path, a passage between states, between worlds, They reflect both inner journeys and physical migrations, With their lanky silhouettes, they seem ready to cross deserts. His Standing Women and Pregnant Women rise tall and proud, bearing the strength and dignity of femininity. Elegant and defiant, some wear high heels.

This subtle dance between stillness and momentum gives his work a unique visual and emotional intensity.

A fierce defender of the natural world, Ndary Lo created a major installation, echoing the Great Green Wall project. an ambitious pan-African initiative aiming to combat desertification by planting a vegetative barrier, from Senegal to Ethiopia.

In response, Ndary created a forest of trees of various sizes and shapes, all in rebar. The branches of these powerful sculptures end in hands. Seemingly free of gravity, these vertical iron bursts reach toward an imagined sky. Their upward thrust amplifies a sense of spiritual striving. The hands are loaded, with symbolism : are they praying, imploring, protesting, celebrating, fighting, or simply reaching ?

These oversized, otherworldly trees, are both poetic and political. Through them, the artist voiced his hope that Senegal — and Africa more broadly — might rise toward true political and economic independence. “I always try to make my work inspire hope,” he said.

An Ethical Approach : Reclaim, Reuse, Reimagine

Ndary Lo’s artistic philosophy was rooted in sustainability and ethics

He described himself as a “daptaist”, a blend of Dadaism and adaptation, in which every discarded or worn-out material found new life through art

For Ndary Lo, every material had a soul, a memory, By giving them new form, he told the invisible stories of humanity.

This practice, recycling through creation, drawn not only to his commitment to sustainability, but to the deep authenticity of his work.