Manzi Léon is a Rwandan self-taught visual and digital artist who feels alive when creating. Applying paint to a canvas has become his ultimate escape and gives him the confidence to voice what he feels is right as he deals with everyday challenges. Brush strokes converge on his canvas through his painterly style to form his masterpieces.

His paintings and digital artworks reflect his upbringing, which shaped the way Manzi sees the struggles and contributions of women in every household. His works are imbued with his admiration and respect for his mother and black women worldwide. To him, women are the key (full circle) to creating, nurturing and transforming the universe. In Manzi Léon’s journey of artistic exploration, he continues to blends realism with expressive abstraction, focusing on rendering facial features with precision and accuracy while allowing the rest of the work elements including the lower body forms to take on fluid, distorted forms. Hence this contrast is intentional, serving as a visual language that conveys movement, emotion, and deeper narratives. The balance between control and freedom defines Manzi’s style, reinforcing the interplay between structure and spontaneity.

Manzi Léon is emerging as an iconic contemporary African creative, with recent exhibitions in Rwanda, Ghana and the USA. He is driven by a profound commitment to personal and artistic growth, striving to be a powerful contemporary voice from Africa. His journey is centered around establishing foundational pillars that will support and shape his artistic endeavors. Passionate about advocacy, he focuses on supporting and amplifying the voices of Black women globally through his work. Manzi’s vision is not only to evolve as an artist but also to create meaningful impact and change through his creative expression.