Charlene Komuntale is a multi-media artist based in Kampala, Uganda. Having studied animation, her journey took her from illustration and digital painting to combining her digital medium with materials and techniques such as textiles, embroidery, and beading. Venturing beyond digital painting into mixed media, has been pivotal moment in her practice. It has not only proven her versatility but also enriched her creative expression while deepening her engagement with themes of beauty, freedom, and identity.
An integral and recurring element of Komuntale’s work is the presentation of Black African women. Her subject matter is often personal yet presented in a relatable way as inspiration is drawn from her own experiences but also informed by the experiences of other women around her. Komuntale’s work deconstructs dominant narratives as shaped by culture, history, and environment and provides a ground for inquiry and interrogation, and for visions of different futures. Rather than asserting answers, her work opens spaces for reflection, discovery and transformation.
Her current body of work is inspired by the complexity of identity and the layered experiences of Black women. She is drawn to the intersection of societal expectations and personal narratives, particularly how beauty and identity are shaped and redefined over time. The community of women in her life inspire her through their resilience, their joys, and how they navigate expectations. The natural world also plays a significant role, with elements like leaves symbolizing growth, transformation, and connection. These inspirations come together as she explores themes of unravelling, discovery, and the tension between freedom and constraint.
From March to June 2021 Komuntale attended the Silhouette Projects Residency Program, and from January to February 2023, she was an artist-in-residence at The Mill in Adelaide, Australia. In 2023, she held her debut solo exhibition Sit with Me - The Diary of a Free Thinker at Afriart Gallery. Her work was shown in the group exhibitions Where the Wild Things are (Afriart Gallery, 2022), Eastern Voices: Contemporary Art from East Africa (Addis Fine Art, London, 2023), Shapes of Water (Afriart Gallery, 2023), and in Sanaa Exhibition (The Mill, Adelaide, Australia, 2023). She has participated in EXPO Chicago, African Galleries Now X Artsy, Abu Dhabi Art, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, FNB Art Joburg, and 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London. She holds a BA in Animation from Limkokwing University, Malaysia.
Selected Press
OnArt: Charlene Komuntale: A feminist digital artist in Uganda. 2022.
David Krut Podcast: Thinking outside the box and beyond... . 2022.
Uzomah Ugwu for Arte Realizatta: A Ravishing Conversation with Charlene Komuntale. January 15, 2022.
