Fine Art Painter

Rusagara Benjamin was born in 1990 in Masaka, Uganda and began his artistic journey from the age of three. An autodidact, Benjamin honed his skills in the company of artists like Bensassi from Morocco while attending a master's atelier. He further enriched his artistic perspective through a residency at 32 Degrees in Kampala and a symposium with Jalada in Nairobi.

Benjamin engages in the reconstruction of materials and figures through his art, which he incorporates into his paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and installations. His focus on shades of gray imbues his works with a sense of power, particularly evident in his depiction of the silverback gorillas, a color associated with Rwanda's historical, present, and future traditions.

At the core of his artistic exploration are themes of reconciliation and resilience following the Genocide against the Tutsi. Notably, Benjamin has also introduced an innovative script language named "nkusunkushi," which draws upon his heritage by utilizing forms and symbols to convey various meanings.

Beyond visual art, Benjamin showcases his creativity through jazz musical performances, using instruments of his own invention.