For more than a decade, self-taught Ugandan artist, Ema Kato, has been creating and selling his art in collective studios around Kampala. His work is a joyful celebration of Ugandan heritage, culture, and community, which he brings to life through vibrant brushstrokes, mixed media and stories that invite you to look closer and discover something new each time.
We first met Ema on one of our early visits to Uganda and fell in love with his distinctive use of traditional fabrics in his paintings. During our most recent visit, he generously sent us home with several of his paintings to sell in support of our mission.
“In each of my pieces, I am expressing the everyday life and culture of the people around me. My favorite subjects are the people and animals of Uganda,” Ema said. “I call it ‘trash to treasure’ when I can improvise and reuse materials in my artwork. I visit tailors and collect scraps of traditional African fabric, called kitenge, and blend them with my acrylics to create something beautiful.”
For Ema art is more than creating something beautiful, it’s also about sharing creativity with others. When galleries were shuttered during Covid-19, he led workshops to share his technique and talent with young students.
We’re grateful for Ema’s generosity and support of OHU students. His donated paintings will be on display and available for purchase during our Sept 12 Ribfest fundraiser, with 100% of the proceeds supporting scholarships.
We hope you’ll join us to experience Ema’s beautiful work and help turn his art into opportunities for OHU students.
** All pieces are painted on raw canvas (for ease of international shipping) and can be stretched and framed. We recommend Lake View Art Supply, who will be generously offering a 20% framing discount for our buyers.
