Birungi Kawooya
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Art Inspired by Black Women
Shop the Afro-portrait, dance and nature-themed collections or commission me to make an original work of art.
Birungi Kawooya is a collage artist and teacher inspired by nature, the beauty of Black womxn
and the ingenuity of dance from the African diaspora using batik, paper and paint.
Her portraits celebrate Black womxnhood, elevating rest, joy and wellbeing. Nostalgia and
family also inform her practice, from memories of kitchen discos with her siblings and Kiganda
dancers at weddings.
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She creates art she wants to see more of in the world and therefore her primary theme is
depicting Black womxn, usually with flawless jet-Black skin. Birungi seeks to elevate Black
womxn so that they can see themselves as works of art and gain self-esteem. In 2020 she
reflected on how Black womxn are pivotal in leading social justice movements and decided to
focus on compelling Black womxn to protect their dream space with the “Sisters Need Sleep”
collection. The collection celebrates Black womxn resting and taking care of themselves. By
prioritising self-care, the figures in “Sisters Need Sleep” resist the forces of domination in
themselves and to contribute to a more equitable society for all.
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Birungi’s art explores movement through paper silhouettes illuminated by Ugandan batik textiles which connect the dance pieces to her heritage. Endlessly inspired by dancers, Birungi
aspires to translate the motion, skill and soul of dance from the African diaspora into 2-
dimensional pieces. Dance styles include traditional Ugandan dances, Afro-Brasilian samba and
African-American Hiplet.
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Her work is often infused with lush plant life such as tropical flowers and matooke (banana)
trees which are common in Uganda and are referenced in the Josephine Baker collection.
She leads Mindful African art classes and creates space for well-being of school children, young
people, artists and beginners to express themselves using vibrant African textiles. With a focus
on promoting mental well-being, Birungi is a mission to create relaxing environments which
people work through anxiety, stimulate their imagination and connect to vibrant African textile
designs.
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Birungi has led online and in-person art.
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