Ajarb Bernard Ategwa is originally from the South West region of Cameroon and grew up in the economic capital of Douala, a city in full expansion, with galloping urbanism.

A witness to the realities of the people, he depicts his society in a synchronous manner, creating scenes centred around the marketplace, the central meeting point of the population. He paints the
people he meets at this crossroad, sometimes women selling fruits and vegetables harvested in the field, sometimes diplomats who come to buy eggs for breakfast, all sharing the bond of living in this moment that the artist marks with a thick continuous line dissecting his works horizontally. The heroes of his scenes are the young people of his generation, the young « hustlers » who,
sometimes become market vendors despite their university degrees.

The underlying dark socio-economic context Ajarb evokes is brightened by the flashy colors of acrylic and posca pens he uses. He paints pop, and pays homage to the resilient men and women he observes daily at the Ndogbassi market, on the way to his painting studio.

In 2022, he exhibited at 1-54 in London, Art Basel and Taipei Dangdai. He also presented a solo show
in Lagos, Nigeria.