Raymond Tsham is a Congolese artist who was born in 1963 in Lubunz, Eastern Kasai. He lives and works in Kinshasa. The artist graduated from Kinshasa Institute of Fine Arts in 1989. He made his name by using simple black or colored Bic pen and a sheet of paper. He has created masterpieces and this popular Bic pen has become international.

 

This renowned artist modernizes ethnography with exceptional liveliness. He draws masks and figures from the Congo abundantly on paper by using his pen. His favorite themes are to animate African masterpieces showing different expressions, bend their legs and arms, showing their original compositions on a neat and coded background.

 

The sculptures explore Congolese statuary heritage, investigate Africa and archive sequences of history. Raymond boldly opposes ancient hieratic and sacrificial art with that of today’s European and American art. The artist combines heritage and humor in his messages which embraces the intellect. He conveys humanist values through his work.

 

Raymond has re-introduced colors into his work after using black ballpoint for over 20 years, as he also used mixed techniques in the beginning of his career. Water colors, Crayons and colored pencils are used to shade the background and highlight certain figures.