Daniel Atenyi is a self-taught Ugandan artist based in Kampala. After beginning his career with commissioned works, he has transitioned into a more personal and exploratory practice, using art as a lens to investigate complex questions of self-perception and identity.
Rooted in abstract figuration, Atenyi’s work is inspired by the rhythms of daily life and the ways societal change shapes personal experience. His pieces probe the tension between how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others, illuminating the shifting forces that shape identity.
Working primarily on paper, Atenyi experiments across scales and techniques, from delicate sketches to expansive drawings and fluid washes made with water-soluble pigments. His materials, including charcoal and earth-based tones such as coffee, reflect a grounded simplicity that stands in contrast to the layered complexities of his subject matter.
Through his self-sufficient and resourceful practice in which he develops new techniques explores materials, pigments and new materials, Atenyi has cultivated a distinctive visual language; one that reimagines reality through the abstraction of the human form. His work seeks to create a dynamic dialogue with the viewer, opening space for reflection on the fluid and multifaceted nature of identity and perception.
Daniel has shown in the duo exhibition The Quiet Weight of Thoughts with Richard Atugonza at Afriart Gallery in 2025, and has held his first solo exhibition at Latitude 0, Kampala in 2024. He exhibited in the group exhibition Form and Fantasy at Afriart Gallery and has shown at Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2024 and FNB Art Joburg 2025. He completed a residency with Silhouette Project (Uganda) in 2023 and with Vivid Synergies! (Uganda) in 2024.
Selected Press
Gloria Coutinho for Visions of Glo: A Break in Continuity: In Conversation with Daniel Atenyi. 2025.
Matt Kayem for Start Journal: Daniel Atenyi - A Soul Start in the Making. 2023.
