Born in 1987 in Abidjan, Daouda Traoré holds a Higher Technician’s Certificate in Visual Arts from the National Institute of Arts of Bamako and graduated from the Balla Fasseké Kouyaté Conservatory of Arts and Multimedia in 2013. Since August 2014, he has been teaching visual arts at the Public High School of Sikasso, where he lives and works.
The essence of his work lies in giving life to materials rarely used in academic painting, such as:- Worn sheet metal, metal nails, plywood,
- Tin cans, newspaper, millet sacks,
- Plastic jugs, iron wire, wool thread, fabric scraps.
The selection of these materials is deeply tied to the complexity of the themes he explores in his paintings. His canvases reflect societal realities and tackle major global challenges, including:- Multiple crises, immigration, conflicts,
- The daily lives of African populations,
- The movement and energy of urban life.
His approach is based on a distinctive style, which he calls "Unreadable Poetry." Beyond the diversity of materials he employs, he incorporates letters and words into his work, considering them the foundation of human and intellectual knowledge.These textual elements symbolize what is missing in many of his subjects, particularly those who embark on the journey of illegal immigration.His paintings, composed of multiple layers of materials that he assembles, glues, and paints, capture fragments of daily life, immersing the viewer in the contemporary urban experience of the cities he encounters.A member of the Atelier M collective, based in the historic neighborhood of Médina Coura, Daouda Traoré is part of a group of four young painters of his generation.A prolific artist, he actively participates in numerous workshops and exhibitions across Mali, including:- "Peindre la paix" at Anw-Ko’Art Gallery,
- "Fassoko" at Centre Soleil d’Afrique,
- "Taxi Bamako",
- The Segou’Art Contemporary Art Salon (2016–2020).
