L’Archiviste is focused on modern and contemporary African art, with particular attention to artists from West and Central Africa. The work is centered on understanding how art carries identity, presence and cultural memory, and on placing these pieces in environments that allow them to be experienced with intention.
The work is rooted in showing African art with accuracy and depth. Too often, African artists are placed into simplified narratives and their work is not given the context it deserves. L’Archiviste takes a more thoughtful approach, shaped by research, care and a modern understanding of contemporary African expression.
The focus is on placement, not volume. Every project begins with understanding the space itself. Selections are made based on material, tone and the feeling the artwork brings into a room. The goal is not decoration. The goal is to create a relationship between art and environment that feels natural and intentional.
L’Archiviste works directly with artists, collectors and clients, helping them source and select contemporary African art with confidence. The approach is grounded in clear communication, strong relationships and an understanding of how to guide each project from start to finish.
The vision is simple. Bring modern African voices into the global conversation through placements that are intentional, respectful and grounded in cultural understanding.
(1966) Photograph: Sory Sanlé
Culture is the expression of the soul in all its fullness.
- Léopold Sédar Senghor
FOUNDER
My name is Arelis Nguema Maye. I am from Equatorial Guinea and travel shaped how I see art, culture and space. I am currently studying at Parsons School of Design in New York, focusing on design, visual culture and curatorial practice.
I naturally gravitate toward modern and contemporary African art, especially from West and Central Africa, because of its depth and the way it reflects both history and modern identity.I am drawn to work that feels intentional and clear. Pieces that contribute to a space without overwhelming it.
I care about how art lives in a room, how it shifts the atmosphere and how it adds meaning through presence rather than noise.
Founding L’Archiviste came naturally. I wanted a way to work directly with artists and clients and to place African art in spaces where it is taken seriously, understood and valued in the way it deserves.