Hervé Youmbi’s (b. 1973, Bangui, Central African Republic) work broadly explores the reception and commodification of African art forms in the global contemporary art world, in international markets for “traditional” African art, and in local Grassfields communities of Western Cameroon.

Youmbi attended Cameroon’s only dedicated art school at the time, IFA (Institut de Formation Artistique) (1993-96), studying art theory and installation art, which he later pursued, through both practice and research, in France at ESAD (Ecole Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Strasbourg, renamed Haute Ecole des Arts du Rhin). While there, he produced his first video work (2000-2001).

Youmbi has been hosted on several artist residencies, which have facilitated his research of historical African art in European and American museum collections.