Olivier Kwitonda

Rwanda

Born in: 1987

Painting

Born June 5, 1987, Olivier Kwitonda is a self-taught visual artist in Rwanda. Since his childhood years, he had an artistic curiosity through which he looked beyond the challenge of reality to future possibilities through painting. His formal artistic career began in 2009 when he joined Urumuri Arts as an apprentice, working to receive training in art while fully supporting his younger brothers, as a teenager.


In 2013, he joined Yego Arts in Kigali, through which he displayed his semi-abstract, naive, mixed media, and acrylic art in many exhibitions, partnering with several international and local artists. He was a first prize winner at the art exhibition, My Democracy, at the Kigali US Embassy in 2014 and also participated in the 2014 Imago Mundi project through which his art was later exhibited in Venice, Italy. In his art, he often offers a social commentary of Rwandan history, the movement of daily life, and the African artist's experience.

Exhibitions

1. Anchorage, group exhibition, Nigeria, 2019.

2. Beauty and Strength in Pain, art exhibition with American artist, Kigali, Rwanda, 2019.

3. African Pride, group exhibition, Nigeria, 2018.

4. Life in Colours, solo exhibition, Kigali, Rwanda, 2018.

5. Iwacu Nyumbani "My Art for You", group exhibition with 10 Rwandan artists and 14+ Tanzanian artists, Kigali, Rwanda, 2017.

6. The Passionate Journey, solo exhibition, Kigali, Rwanda, 2017.

7. In the Eyes of the artist, Umubano Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda, 2016.

8. The Journey of 365 days, Inganzo Arts Centre, Masaka, Uganda, 2016.

9. One Voice, USA Embassy, Kigali, 2015.

10. Arts and Culture Exchange (between East Africa and Germany), Germany, 2015.

11. Yego Arts, Moston, US, 2014.

12. My Democracy, US Embassy, Kigali, 2014.

13. Imago Mundi Project, Venice Collection, Inagnzo Arts Centre, Kigali Rwanda, 2014.

14. Heaven Restaurant, Yego Arts, Kigali, Rwanda, 2013/2014.