Kigali, Rwanda

Richard Mwizerwa

Contemporary Visual Artist

Layered abstractions drawn from the colors,
textures, and rhythms of nature.

Richard Mwizerwa
"My paintings are built through attention. They emerge from a way of seeing that lingers on what is often passed over — quiet changes, subtle shifts, and the energy carried within everyday moments."

Selected Works

Series 01

Sunrise to Sunset

200 × 140 cm Acrylic on canvas 2024
Sunrise to Sunset No. 1
Sunrise to Sunset No. 2
Sunrise to Sunset No. 3

This series explores change as a shared human condition. Nature becomes a starting point — not as subject, but as example. Its cycles, erosion, growth, and quiet transformations mirror how ideas, emotions, and energy move through people and communities.

Series 02

Sun & Rain

140 × 140 cm Acrylic on canvas 2024
Sun & Rain No. 1
Sun & Rain No. 2
Sun & Rain No. 3

Each work is built through layers, reflecting accumulation rather than conclusion. Each layer represents time, influence, and response — suggesting that nothing exists in isolation, and that transformation is always in progress.

Series 03

Stories in the Bark

150 × 80 cm & 100 × 150 cm Acrylic on canvas 2023
Stories in the Bark No. 1
Stories in the Bark No. 2

A study of the textures found in tree bark — each groove a record of time, weathering, and endurance. The works trace how the visible surface is only part of the story; beneath it lives memory, growth, and unseen force.

Series 04

In the Garden

120 × 95 cm Acrylic on canvas 2025
In the Garden No. 1
In the Garden No. 2
In the Garden No. 3

Rooted in a childhood sensitivity to garden and ground spaces — places where change unfolds quietly over time. The works capture the rhythm of growth, decay, and the overlooked details that hold entire worlds within them.

Series 05

Traces of Movement

105 × 75 cm Mixed media on canvas 2025
Traces of Movement No. 1
Traces of Movement No. 2
Traces of Movement No. 3
Traces of Movement No. 4
Traces of Movement No. 5
Traces of Movement No. 6
Traces of Movement No. 7

Using UV reactive paints, this series captures observations of human gesture, expression, and movement. Under UV light, what is ordinarily invisible becomes present — some parts revealed, others remaining hidden. The works are made to be experienced under special lighting, bridging natural observation with human presence.

These works are experienced under UV lighting.

About

Richard Mwizerwa is a contemporary visual artist based in Kigali, Rwanda. His practice is grounded in close observation, memory, and the slow transformations that shape both nature and human experience. From an early age, he developed a sensitivity to subtle details — especially within garden and ground spaces where change unfolds quietly over time.

Working through abstraction, Richard uses nature as a visual language rather than a direct subject. Through layered compositions, texture, and restrained color transitions, he explores how time, emotion, and daily choices influence inner energy and presence. Each painting develops gradually, reflecting accumulation, memory, and unseen forces at work beneath the surface.

His work invites viewers to slow down and look closely, creating space for reflection and personal interpretation. His practice bridges the visible and invisible, drawing connections between natural cycles and the emotional landscapes we carry within.

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing — Self-taught artist with extensive research, practice, and independent study in fine arts.

Process

When I create, I start by observing the small details in nature that often go unnoticed — the shapes of leaves, the textures of tree bark, and how light and weather can transform the world around us. Using acrylics and a palette knife, I build layers of colors and textures that reflect these elements.

Richard Mwizerwa working in the studio

For me, it's about capturing the magic in these changes — how the earth looks warm and foggy in the morning, how gardens look pure and vibrant after rain, or how everything glows at sunset. When someone views my paintings, I want them to step closer and notice all the layers, just like how you see more when you get closer to nature.

Collections & Collaborations

  • Kami Gahiga Art Basel Hong Kong
  • Touria El Glaoui 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair
  • Johan-Hilel Hamel Managing Director, Institut Français du Rwanda

Exhibitions & Performances

  1. 2025

    Studio visit and hosting of collectors and curators on the occasion of the opening of GICA (Gihanga Institute of Contemporary Art), curated by Kami Gahiga

  2. 2025

    Solo presentation and studio visit with a group of art collectors from the Zeitz MOCAA Art Tour, envisioned by the late Koyo Kouoh

  3. 2024

    Solo Exhibition at Institut Français du Rwanda

  4. 2024

    Solo Show with Live Instrumental Performance — Collaboration with musicians blending live painting with music

  5. 2023–24

    Live Performances with Sofar Kigali

  6. 2023

    Live Painting at BK Arena, Rwanda

  7. 2022

    Live Painting on Rwanda National Television

  8. 2022

    Live Painting at Kigali Convention Center

  9. 2020

    Live Painting on Rwanda National Television

Contact

For inquiries about works, commissions, or collaborations.

Based in Kigali, Rwanda