Buying Senegalese Art From Abroad: The Full Process

Buying a Senegalese painting from the United States or the United Kingdom follows four steps: find a specific piece on the online gallery, ask for its price in writing, pay remotely, then receive the piece either by shipping or through a relative passing through Dakar. None of these steps require you to be on site, but each one benefits from a bit of planning to go smoothly.

Finding a piece before deciding

Ge'eza's gallery shows canvases by Ibou Diagne, Saadio and Tampidaro, three artists brought together for the exhibition "Lien commun" at the IFAN Théodore Monod Museum in October 2025. Every page online gives the work's exact title, technique, dimensions, year and status (available or sold). A piece like "Marché de Louga," an oil on canvas by Ibou Diagne, shows what these pages offer: enough concrete detail to make a decision, without needing to see the piece in person to form a first impression.

Taking the time to compare a few pieces before choosing helps avoid rushed decisions. Dimensions matter in particular when buying from abroad, since they determine how the piece will be shipped and where it will eventually hang.

Asking for the price, wherever you are

Prices are not posted online while the price list is still being finalised: they are given on request from the artwork's page, or directly on WhatsApp at +221 78 660 07 07, naming the exact title of the piece. This step is the same no matter which country you are writing from. The team replies with the price, the technical details of the work and the payment options available. The guide on how art is priced in Dakar explains more broadly what makes one painting's price differ from another, without giving a fixed price range while the list is not yet published.

Paying from the US or the UK

Payment can be made by Wave, Orange Money, card, or in person through a relative who happens to be in Dakar. For a buyer based in Europe or North America, card payment is usually the simplest, since it does not require a local account. It helps to confirm the exact amount and currency in writing before paying, to avoid any confusion tied to the day's exchange rate.

Receiving the work outside Senegal

Once payment is confirmed, there are two ways to receive the piece abroad. The first is to request shipping directly from the gallery, on request for a quote, which covers packing and transport to the address you give. The second is to have a relative collect the work at Point E and carry it home in a suitcase. The guide on shipping artwork from Dakar covers the timing involved and the information the gallery needs so the shipment goes smoothly, whatever the destination country.

Either way, the piece leaves with a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist. That document confirms the work is genuinely theirs and is worth keeping together with the invoice, useful for insurance or any future resale.

What tends to take the longest

From abroad, the slowest part is usually not the payment but organising the shipment: arranging packing, getting a transport quote, and waiting for transit to the final address. It helps to start the price and shipping request early, especially if the piece is meant for a specific date, such as a move or a gift.

Asking every question before paying

There is no reason to hold back questions before paying: the exact condition of the piece, how it has been stored, whether it belongs to a set like the "Lien commun" exhibition, or extra photos taken in different light. The team answers these questions on WhatsApp or by email before any payment is requested, so the decision can be made with full information.

Time zones and the pace of replies

Writing from the US East Coast or from the UK means the team in Dakar is often several hours ahead or behind, depending on the time of year. A message sent in the evening in New York or London is usually answered the following morning in Dakar, so it helps to plan for a short delay between a question and a reply rather than expecting an instant answer. Grouping several questions into one message, rather than sending them one at a time, tends to speed up the whole exchange, since the team can answer everything in a single reply instead of several back-and-forth messages spread across the day.

Keeping a paper trail

Because the whole purchase happens over WhatsApp and email, it is worth keeping a record of each step: the message naming the piece and asking for its price, the reply with the price and the details, and the confirmation once payment is made. This written trail is useful on its own, separate from the certificate of authenticity, in case a question comes up later about what exactly was agreed, such as the condition described or the shipping address given at the time.

Staying in touch after the purchase

Once a piece has arrived, the gallery remains available for questions about caring for it or about new work coming online. To start a price request or arrange shipping, write to +221 78 660 07 07 or to geezacultures@gmail.com, naming the piece and the destination country. The gallery itself is open during restaurant hours, Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm, for anyone passing through Dakar before or after buying.