Chef Badara Gueye, Head Chef at Purple Summer's Château de Candie, On His Top 5 Favourite Artists

At Château de Candie in Chambéry, Senegalese chef Badara Gueye isn't just plating exquisite French cuisine — he’s crafting art in every sense of the word. When he’s not leading the kitchen at La Cantine, Gueye is painting bold, emotive works that now hang across the 14th-century château’s walls.

His dual life as both chef and painter informs everything he touches, from his blackcurrant-glazed veal to his portraits of powerful women and animals.

Image courtesy of Hobby One Photographe

We asked the multitalented chef to share five artists who have deeply shaped his creative world, on and off the plate.

1) Joe Ouakam

The sculptor, poet, painter, and Senegalese writer Issa Samb — better known by his artist name Joe Ouakam — passed away on April 25, 2017, at the age of 71. He had the presence of a philosopher: someone who had wrestled with the questions of his time and then chosen to step back, embracing a life of quiet contemplation. He often wandered the streets of Dakar, absorbing the city’s pulse and spirit. And yet, he remained elusive, a mystery even to those who knew him. I often think of him during the times I hustled for odd jobs, just trying to survive. I deeply relate to his way of life: retreating from a harsh world, questioning the everyday as a path to self-reflection, and embracing solitude in the pursuit of human sensitivity.

2) Van Gogh

Often called the painter of the poor, Gogh understood that art is a constant struggle — a mirror of hardship, resistance, and survival. In his work, I see fragments of my own story: weary peasants with worn, expressive faces, carrying quiet burdens. It moves me deeply. That’s why I feel a quiet pride knowing one of my own paintings now hangs somewhere in the Netherlands. It’s a small, meaningful echo of that same spirit.

3) Pierre Gagnaire

Pierre Gagnaire, the legendary three-Michelin-starred chef, seamlessly fuses gastronomy with contemporary art — a level of creative expression I’ve seen nowhere else. Today, he’s the only figure who truly inspires me in both of my worlds: as a chef and as a painter. His openness to the world and fearless pursuit of innovation continually push the boundaries of what’s possible. One day, I hope to follow in his footsteps, with menus inspired by my own artwork.

4) Henri Matisse

He once remarked, “I don’t paint a woman; I paint a picture.” His canvases were tributes to feminine beauty, and that credo guides my own work. Nearly all my paintings now feature women. Having lost my mother when I was very young, I keep searching for her face on every canva, each brushstroke a tender, unexpected cut. I linger over the eyes most of all; they speak in hushed tones only paint can convey.

5) Ousmane Sow

Between pride and admiration, he pushed the limits of sculpture — Nuba wrestlers, Maasai warriors, Fulani herders. His works remind me of my roots, my land, my culture. An internationally renowned Senegalese artist whose sculptures were placed on the footbridge spanning the Seine between the Louvre and the Institut de France. He passed away in 2016. The best way to honour him is to follow in his footsteps.