Chéri CHERIN (Joseph Kinkonda) [1955 - 2025 Kinshasa (DRC)] (Untitled) Retro dance Oil on canvas. 132 x 83 cm. Signed and dated 2023 lower right. Considered the father of Congolese popular painting, Chéri Cherin is one of Kinshasa's best-known painters and the teacher of many talented young artists. Chéri Cherin was a master of narrative and social painting in Kinshasa, documenting daily life and socio-political themes with satirical humour. A pioneer and observer of the sape movement, he used fashion as a prism to comment on Congolese society, its hopes and its failures. A major figure in Congolese popular painting, he contributed to its international recognition while remaining deeply rooted in the identity and realities of his people. TRIBUTE TO CHÉRI CHÉRIN Chéri Chérin was a master of colour and truth. Through his brush, he told the story of the people, the streets, the joy and the struggle. His paintings, full of life and wisdom, reflect a vibrant Congo and a universal humanity. A visionary and witness to his time, he transformed art into a language of the heart and conscience. His legacy remains a beacon of light for Africa and the world.