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Collectible Description

Agbagli Kossi was born toward 1935 in Be, Togo. He lived and worked in Lomé. He died in 1991.He spent his whole life in a house in the old village-district of Amoutivé right up until his death. He worked in an outdoor studio under an awning, almost out in the street, creating the domestic altars corresponding to the various family and individual fetishes that protect his family and his work. Agbagli is a sacred craftsman, a sculptor who drew his inspiration from the statuettes and idols of the traditional voodoo religion. He himself is lowly priest of this cult that has complex ramifications and is widespread on the shores of the Gulf of Benin. At times he is a healer, well versed in the use of plants, herbs and libations. Agbagli explains to people he trusts, that he owes his calling to a strange little long-haired character made of wood, and embellished with shells, that he discovered in the bush and has had for 30 years. It is to him that Agbagli owes his success, or at least his reputation. At first he worked for the community of Bé, his cultural and religious environment, that is gradually being swallowed up by the century-old city of Lomé. Agbagli

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Artist Biography

The Sacred Craft of Bé

In the vibrant, bustling district of Bé, within the heart of Lomé, the life and work of Agbagli Kossi were inextricably woven into the spiritual fabric of Togo. Born in 1935, Kossi was far more than a mere sculptor; he was a sacred craftsman, a practitioner of the Vodun cult whose very existence served as a bridge between the earthly and the divine. His studio, an outdoor space sheltered by a simple awning almost spilling into the street, was not just a place of labor but a site of ritual. Here, amidst the scents of herbs and the echoes of tradition, he created domestic altars to honor the various fetishes that protected his family and his craft. Kossi’s artistic journey was famously ignited by a chance encounter with a mysterious, long-haired wooden figure adorned with shells—a discovery in the bush that he believed bestowed upon him his lifelong calling, shaping a destiny rooted in the profound mysteries of West African spirituality.

The Radiance of Pink Lacquer

Kossi’s aesthetic language is instantly recognizable, defined by a luminous and ethereal quality that seems to glow from within. His mastery lay in the delicate application of vibrant pink lacquer onto wooden figurines, occasionally punctuated by strokes of white to create depth and emotion. These were not merely decorative objects but vessels of West African Vodun symbolism. He was particularly renowned for his venavi—intricate statuettes depicting mothers and twins—which served as powerful emblems of fertility, continuity, and the complex cosmology of the Yoruba people. Through this meticulous layering of color and form, Kossi captured the very essence of spiritual vitality, transforming humble wood into sacred icons that pulsed with a life of their own.

From Local Ritual to Global Stage

While his roots remained firmly planted in the traditions of Togo, Kossi’s vision eventually transcended national borders, earning him a place among the significant figures of contemporary African art. His work traveled from the streets of Lomé to the most prestigious galleries of Europe, most notably through his participation in the landmark Magiciens de la terre exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris in 1989. This global recognition continued with his presence at the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno in Spain, ensuring that the voices of West African Vodun art were heard far beyond the shores of the Gulf of Benin. Today, his legacy remains preserved through prestigious collections, standing as a testament to an artist who successfully translated the profound mysteries of his faith into a universal and captivating visual language.

agbagli kossi

1935 - 1991 , Togo

Quick Facts

Artistic Movement Or Style: West African Vodun Art Tradition
Date Of Birth: 1935
Date Of Death: 1991
Full Name: Agbagli Kossi
Nationality: Togolese
Notable Artworks:
- Mamy Wata
- Detugbi
- Untitled
Place Of Birth: Be, Togo

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DETUGBI

Collectible Description

Artist Biography

Giclée / Art Print

Reproduction Medium

Reproduction Frame

White $1

Blurside $1

Extended $1

P118B $10

P118H $10

P118W $10

P438Z $10

P508JH $12

P508YH $12

P805H $10

P805Z $10

P919BZ $10

P919G $10

P919XJ $10

P959ZH $10

P968JZ $12

W106C $8

W218G $10

W218JH $8

W218Y $10

W307PJ $10

W316G $10

W316PJ $8

W316Y $10

W398PJ $8

W4111J $10

W500HY $15

W500JH $15

W692G $12

W849H $8

W940BG $15

W953PJ $8

H24-GOLD $40

H24-SILVER $40

H36-GOLD $60

H36-SILVER $60

Framed

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Protective Varnish

Nameplate

Engraved Bronze Plaque Details

Transparent Acrylic Plaque Details

Black Acrylic Plaque Details

Urgent Production

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Total Price

$ 63

Summary

Giclée / Art Print

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Reproduction Frame

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Nameplate

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Protective Varnish

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Urgent

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Express Shipping

Included

Total Price

$ 63

Collectible Description

Related Artworks

Artist Biography

The Sacred Craft of Bé