Henry 'Mzili' Mujunga

Henry "Mzili" Mujunga is a painter, printmaker, and writer whose artistic pursuits center on exploring intuitive methods to revive African art, exemplified through an art movement known as indigenous expressionism.

Biography of Henry "Mzili" Mujunga

Henry "Mzili" Mujunga was born in 1971 in Uganda. From 1992 to 1995, he studied at the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts, graduating with honors in 1996. Subsequently, from 2000 to 2001, Mzili pursued further studies at the School of Education at Makerere University, earning a postgraduate degree.

In 2003, he received the Royal Overseas League (ROSL) Art Scholarship. Notably, he served as the first curator of the Kampala Art Biennale in 2014.

Mzili is a founding member of the East African Art Group Index Mashariki, dedicated to revitalizing the significance of art in the local community through the promotion of indigenous expressionism.

In 2022, Mzili achieved recognition as a finalist in the inaugural Norval Sovereign Art Prize and participated in a group exhibition at the Norval Foundation.

Henry "Mzili" Mujunga's works have been exhibited worldwide in solo and group shows. Notable group exhibitions featuring Mzili's works include "Eastern Voices - Contemporary Artists from East Africa" at Addis Fine Art in London (2023), "HANDLE WITH CARE" at OSTRALE 015 in Dresden (2015), "DICHOTOMY OF CREATIVITY" at Makerere Art Gallery in Kampala (2012), "AGALI AWAMU" at Afriart Gallery in Kampala (2007), and many more.

Currently, the artist lives and works in Uganda. 

Henry "Mzili" Mujunga's Art Style

Mzili is a versatile artist who finds joy in painting, printmaking, and the creation of conceptual art. His artistic exploration delves into the intersection of indigenous expression, involving a multi-sensory response to his environment, the people around him, and their activities, all within the context of evolving contemporary art concepts.

In Henry 'Mzili' Mujunga's portraits, a multitude of seemingly unrelated objects converge within a unified frame. These compositions unfold in intimate spaces where deeply personal interactions take place. Frequently, multiple distinct spaces are amalgamated into a singular depiction. The titles of these artworks not only describe the interactions portrayed but also allude to external associations.

Mzili's assembly of objects, spaces, and the inherent associations linked to these objects mirror the identity-forming processes he observes in his native Uganda. Through these richly detailed autobiographical compositions, Mzili provides insight into his personal history and present.