Rising Gambian artist Anna Isatou Bah is set to embark on her first international residency this October, marking a major milestone in her career. Sponsored by the international ART27 Group and its founder Ferenc Donderer, Bah will spend three weeks in Spain on a cultural research and study tour designed to expand her expertise in printmaking and mixed-media art.
Bah’s itinerary begins on October 27 with a flight from Banjul to Barcelona. There, she will join the prestigious Art Print Residence to refine advanced, non-toxic relief engraving techniques and conduct research at the Picasso Museum.
The second leg of her residency will take place in Tenerife, Canary Islands. At Cherrie’s Attic Art Space, Bah will participate in a master class led by Carolyne Jacobs and Simon Capelen, focusing on traditional European wood carving and tactile mixed-media structures. She will also spend a day at TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes) in Santa Cruz, experiencing large-scale contemporary installations and modern museum architecture.
Despite the international exposure, Bah has emphasised her commitment to The Gambia. She serves as a key support system for her mother and is a driving force in local arts education. Upon her return between November 14 and 23, 2026, she will resume her workshops in Sanyang and expand her teaching in collaboration with the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in Fajara.
“I am not traveling to leave; I am traveling to learn and bring that global knowledge back home to my country,” Bah said. “My students in Sanyang, my upcoming expansion with the NCAC, my art, and most importantly, my family and my mother are my ultimate anchors.”
Bah’s residency is expected to strengthen her role as a leading figure in Gambian visual art, bridging global techniques with local creativity.
