The Congolese art community is mourning the loss of Joseph Kinkonda, better known by his artistic name Chéri Chérin, who died on Sunday evening, October 19, 2025. The news of the celebrated painter's death was announced by the Congolese Mutual of Visual Artists, leaving many artists and art enthusiasts who knew him personally or through his works deeply saddened.
Considered a master by many and a grand master by others, Chéri Chérin established his reputation as a leading figure in the Congolese popular painting movement. Through his unique artistic vision, Chéri Chérin transcended the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with his canvases blending realism and caricature being exhibited in major galleries and international institutions, notably at the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris. He not only documented Kinshasa through his paintings but also inspired and trained new generations of Congolese artists.
"He's someone who contributed so much to the art world, who trained many masters such as Landry Mulala, JP Mika and many others. He was the emblematic figure of popular painting in Kinshasa. He contributed a stone to the edifice so that we can talk today about popular painting. He was a genius in the true sense of the word," testified Winnart Nsangu, a painter, to ACTUALITE.CD. Danny Maluku, a popular style visual artist who worked with Chéri Chérin, emphasized learning composition from him, stating, "In being around him, I realized that he's a genius of composition. He brought Congolese art to another dimension. This is what allowed us others who came after to push even further using him as a reference."
Maluku shared a personal anecdote about their working relationship: "I could make a painting, coming back in the evening, I would find that he had destroyed everything, asking me to redo it. Annoyed but I would do it again and I realized that I was improving more and more." This mentoring approach exemplified Chéri Chérin's dedication to developing artistic excellence in others.
Inspired by religion, politics, mythology, and urban life, Joseph Kinkonda became what he described as an Exceptional Creator, a Remarkable Expressionist, and an Incomparable Naturalist. The first letters of this description explain the nickname Chérin, while Chéri signified his love for work well done and the creator's love for his audience toward his works.
In a previous interview, Chéri Chérin reflected on his artistic journey: "I was born with drawing, I have art in my blood. In first grade, I was already scribbling. My father decided that I should be a Catholic Church priest. He sent me to the seminary. The Jesuits saw that I was strong in drawing, they directed me to the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa where I studied ceramics. Afterwards, I returned to my first love, painting."
Born in Kinshasa in 1955, Chéri Chérin became a singular figure in contemporary African art and one of the pillars of the popular painting movement in the DRC. He distinguished himself through a narrative, figurative, and intensely colorful style, making his canvases true social chronicles of the Kinshasa metropolis. Initially trained at the Academy of Fine Arts, he moved away from academicism to embrace an accessible, critical, and often satirical painting style.
His work served as an uncompromising mirror of urban life and the challenges facing the DRC. Addressing varied subjects, he portrayed daily life with biting humor and sharp irony. He was considered one of the four great masters of popular painting, alongside Chéri Samba, Moke, and Pierre Bodo. Through his artistic legacy, Chéri Chérin leaves behind a profound impact on Congolese art and continues to influence the popular painting movement that he helped establish and elevate to international recognition.
