Rising Stars: Meet Aksanti Bienfait Ba of Kampala, Uganda

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aksanti Bienfait Ba.

Hi Aksanti, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a self-taught Congolese visual artist whose practice has grown organically over the past five years into a powerful and evolving body of work. My journey began not in formal institutions, but in lived experience shaped by movement, displacement, and the search for meaning in unfamiliar spaces. Relocating and building my life in Kampala, Uganda, has deeply influenced both my identity and my artistic voice.

Born from personal experience and deep observation, my work is rooted in the human condition exploring what it means to be displaced, to migrate, to seek belonging, and to demand dignity. These are not distant ideas to me but they are realities I have lived, questioned, and continue to navigate.

Working across abstract expressionism, figurative art, and portraiture, I translate complex emotional and political realities into a visual language that resonates across borders from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda and beyond. My practice is intuitive and introspective, often created in solitude, where I find the freedom to connect deeply with my inner world and express it honestly on canvas.

My path as an artist has never been conventional and that has become my strength. Without rigid structures, I have developed a voice that is raw, authentic, and unmistakably my own one that speaks not only for myself, but for many whose stories remain unseen

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a self-taught artist working across East Africa and beyond, visibility has been my greatest challenge. Breaking into spaces that historically favour formally trained or Western based artists requires constant persistence, and self advocacy. Finding clients who understand the depth and value of my work and are willing to invest in it remains an ongoing journey. Despite exhibiting at prestigious institutions including the United Nations Office in Geneva and the Nairobi National Museum, the path to sustainable recognition is one I navigate every day.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work sits at the intersection of identity, politics, and human resilience. Through abstract expressionism and figurative painting. I explore themes of displacement, migration, self-expression, and democracy. I am particularly drawn to Pan-African narratives and the stories of people who live between worlds.

Notable Exhibitions:
•Cultural Tapestries: Threads of Pan-African Identities — Nairobi National Museum
•Resilience in Exile — Berlin Global Village
•SQUATTERS — Virtual Solo Exhibition
•The Art of Equality: A Journey to Justice — United Nations Office, Geneva
•The Art of Equality — Maison de la Paix, Geneva

Any big plans?
I aim to continue expanding my practice internationally while deepening my roots in the African art scene. I am working toward larger solo exhibitions that bring my explorations of democracy, exile, and Pan-African identity to new audiences across Africa, Europe, and beyond. I also hope to collaborate with institutions and communities that champion social justice through art, and to develop mentorship opportunities for other self-taught artists navigating the same path I have walked.

Pricing:

• USD1000 – USD10,000

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aksanti.bienfait.art
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CFJ24FKGx/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aksanti-bienfait-ba-020215264
• Twitter: https://x.com/aksantiart
• Other: http://linktr.ee/aksantibienfait05

Image Credits
Kabeya Ilunga