Painted Frames is a posthumous monograph by the legendary Malian photographer Malick Sidibé, published by Loose Joints. This volume highlights a unique late-career series where Sidibé collaborated with local artisans to set his iconic black-and-white portraits within vibrant, hand-painted glass borders. Moving beyond the “fetishized art object,” the book presents these works as living social artifacts—keepsakes and status symbols that were meant to be gifted and circulated within Bamako’s community. Featuring 88 colour plates and an essay by Amy Sall, the monograph serves as a jubilant final burst of affirmation from the “Eye of Bamako,” reframing his historical archive into a contemporary celebration of West African cultural identity and social exchange.
