Remembering the Late Malick Sidibé Through His Photographs

On many a Saturday night in his native Bamako, Mali, the photographer Malick Sidibé could be spotted at a party—or two, or four—with his camera in hand, capturing the exuberant stirring of a country that did not gain independence until 1960. When he passed away on Thursday, at the age of 80, Sidibé left behind a modern vision of an African youthquake, which he helped usher in when U.S. and European galleries discovered his full-throated portraiture and documentary pictures in the ’90s. Through Friday, you can see the late artist’s work in a solo exhibition at Jack Shainman Gallery in New York, and here in this retrospective slideshow.
Self-portrait, 1956.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Surprise partie, 1964-2004.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Dansez le Twist, 1965/2008.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Regardez Moi, 1962/ 2008.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Démonstration au studio, Melimono, 1969, printed by the artist in 2001.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Vues de dos – Juin, 2003-2004.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Untitled, 1969/2004.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Untitled, 1967/2004.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Lycée de Filles, 1967-2004.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Untitled, 1984.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Toute seule dans le salon, 1974/2004.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Des Chassures Pour Aller Danser, 1963/2008.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Dan Une Famille a Missira, 1964/2008.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Jeune fille avec sacoche en main, 1970-2004.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Portrait Oumau Diané-1965 Pose avec fleur, 1965-2008.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Le technicien de Radio Mali, 1966-2008.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Taximan avec Voiture, 1970-2008.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Portrait au Studio, 1969-2008.
Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.