Babacar Mbaye Diop

Babacar Mbaye Diop is an Associate Professor in Aesthetics, Philosophy of Art and Culture at the Department of Philosophy, Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. Holding a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Rouen, he is also an independent curator and former director of the Dakar Arts Biennale, with a focus on African art and its relational dimensions.

• Academic Focus: Aesthetics, Philosophy of Art, Relational Art Practices
• Institutional Affiliation: Cheikh Anta Diop University, Bayreuth Academy (fellowship)

His research explores how contemporary African art serves as a medium for social experimentation and human relations, particularly through the collective Portes et passages du retour. His publications include critical analyses of African art concepts and relational aesthetics, with a 2018 book titled Critique de la notion d'art africain.

Key themes in his work include cultural heritage restitution, the intersection of art and inter-human relationships, and the role of aesthetics in social cohesion. He is a member of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA).