Zidoun-Bossuyt Paris is thrilled to present Beyond Borders, John Madu’s very first solo exhibition in France, on view from November 8, 2025 to January 3, 2026, at 51 rue de Seine. Beyond Borders marks a major milestone: John Madu’s first solo exhibition in France, following his show at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam — where he made history as the first African artist ever exhibited. Now presented in Paris, this powerful body of work arrives as a bold continuation of that landmark moment.
John Madu drew on his West African perspective to create his own versions of Van Gogh’s paintings, introducing local narratives to a global audience. In his vivid paintings, John Madu explores themes including identity, globalisation and cultural cross-pollination. He takes elements of European art history and blends them with everyday imagery from West Africa. His paintings forge connections across cultures and resonate with people all around the world. John Madu was not only inspired by Van Gogh’s painting style but also by his life:
I definitely see parallels between Van Gogh’s journey and my own, particularly in how we deal with loneliness. Making art can be a solitary pursuit, and there’s also the pressure of society’s expectations of what it means to be an artist.
John Madu is a Nigerian multi-disciplinary artist born in Lagos, best known for his figurative symbolic style of paintings. His work can be described as eclectic because of how he derives ideas, from a various range of influences and sources based on popular culture, African history, art history and personal experiences. Symbolism is usually evident in his work, with reoccurring iconography such as books, paintings, and other recognizable items which convey a certain meaning in art, and act as metaphors to a subject. John Madu conveys personal narratives through allegories in his vibrant paintings. His subjects, usually depicted within their intimate domestic spaces, seemingly pose or are caught in mid- reflection. John Madu pays careful attention to the symbolism of the objects in his portraits, finding hidden meanings in the routine decor of the house. Artworks are hung on the walls of bedrooms and living rooms using surreal colors including orange hair and pink walls. The quiet subtleties of his objects come out in the small details: the texture of the popular Ankara wax fabric, the pattern of a Ghana-must-go bag, the curved design of a table lamp, …

BIOGRAPHY

With a B.sc in policy and strategic studies, John Madu has taught himself, how to follow a natural flow of research and idea development, exploring all possible concepts, until it is innovative and ready for high quality production, and above all to embrace his individual style, with a wide array of mediums such as acrylic paint, oil paint, spray paint, ink, burlap and collage. His multidisciplinary approach has guided his creative interest in design objects, sculpture, functional art, and even artistic fashion pieces. Madu’s art has been featured in contemporary art exhibitions locally and internationally he has collaborated with international brands such as Diesel and Bombay Sapphire, and believes art should be perceived as a time continuum like the way we see nature and an instantaneous reflection of the creative part of ourselves being expressed, when a viewer comes in contact with his work. He held his most recent solo exhibition at Fondazione Mudima in Milan, in June 2022. From May to September 2025, his work was showcased at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam — a landmark moment that made him the first African artist ever exhibited there.