Valerie Asiimwe Amani born 1991, Dar es Salaam, is an artist and writer. In her work, she uses her own language to show emotions, realities and narratives from her environment. To do this, she uses her personal language of signs, bodies and images. Exhibitions include The Main Complaint, at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, Cape Town; Terrains of Possibility at Rele Gallery, Lagos and Boda Boda Lounge at City SALTS, Basel. She has given various talks on Art and Activism including SOAS, University of London with The Royal African society. She is also an art writer focusing on emerging African artists, on Emergent Art Space.
Amani is an Economics and Fashion graduate, and acquired her MFA at The Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University. She is the recipient of the 2021 Vivien Leigh Prize for a work on paper, which led to the acquisition of the piece by The Ashmolean Museum. She has been shortlisted 2022 for the Henrike Grohs Award as well as the Dentons Art Prize. Works

Joseph Cartoon was born on 5th of may 1976 as the 9th child in a family of twelve, in Kiambu in the Highlands of Kenya. He grew up in the tea plantation area, and there began painting, drawing and pottery at school. Joseph Cartoon has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in East Africa, Europe and South Korea. In 2002, he participated in the Scholars Exhibition of the Royal Overseas League in London and was awarded a one year Artist-in-Residency in the UK. He lives in Banana Hill, Nairobi. Paintings

Agemo Francis was born in 1986 in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria. In 2008, he completed his art studies in sculpture and painting at the Delta State University in Abraka. He still lives in Badagry with his wife and two children. His works has been shown in exhibitions in Nigeria, Kenya, the UK (London) and Benin.
«Even though I attended school of Art, the streets were my real school. That’s where I got my inspiration. My real teachers were my grandparents, grandparents, who raised me with all the elements of my culture. As an artist, what is important to me is what is happening around me. I reflect the resulting emotion in my art.» Paintings

Juanita Frier was born in Tzaneen (South Africa) on 11 August 1973 and finished her high school in a small town in the mountains of Mpumalanga called Sabie. 1991 she arrived in Johannesburg, and has lived there ever since, pursuing her interest in art. Juanita Frier is a self-taught artist, who had her art influence from mentors in Johannesburg in the early nineties. Such as Patrick Rorke who taught at The Art Foundation, and Lionel Murcott, who taught at The National School of Arts. She has been in many group shows over the years in Johannesburg, and in 2006, Juanita Frier and Lionel Murcott ran their own gallery for 2 years in Parkhurst called The Artists Club at Gallery on 6th. There they organized and participated in monthly group showings. After that, she found representation at the Art Eye Gallery, Johannesburg and at Forster Gallery in Zanzibar. Paintings

Tamrat Gezahegne born in 1977 in Addis Ababa. He graduated in 2000 from Addis Ababa University, Alle School of Fine Arts and Design. He is a founding member of Netsa Art Village which was the most dynamic venue for the flourishing of the contemporary art scene in Ethiopia. Tamrat's works ranges from being a landscape and portrait painter to his relentless studio practice and experimentation, as well as installation and performance. Tamrat has shown his works in Egypt, Spain, Germany, England, France, Sweden, Norway, Pakistan, The Netherlands, Marocco, South Africa, the UAE and the USA. Paintings

„If you want to know about me, then I’lI tell you about my perspective and my process.“

In the summer of 2023 Ephrem Gino passed away. Much of his personality is shown in his self-portrait, which he provided to Forster Gallery for publication in his artist portrait.  

"I’m born and raised in Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and I’m in my early 40’s maybe. I first picked up a camera in 2002, which developed into my life’s passion of photography. In photography we are always referring to „taking photos“, however in my philosophy I believe that I am „receiving photos“ – because if the person or moment of life in front of my lens is not willing to give, there is no moment to be captured. The process of my expression through photography is to capture the moment without any judgement, document the moment for what it is. I see myself as only the instrument of capturing the moment in time, but I am not the ‘taker’ of the moment, I’m blessed to ‘receive’ and witness the moment. When I travel throughout the world my objective is not simply to snap some pictures, but instead to live and experience the world from different angles. To see diverse landscapes, wildlife, feel the energy of urban and rural spaces, and to meet people and listen to their stories – traveling forces me to learn and unlearn concepts. Photography is just an additional way for me to engage with the world visually.

From a technical perspective one needs light for photography, but only light itself will not create a photo, you also need obstacles which block or split the light to produce shadows, colors, outlines within an image. Therefore, both darkness and light is necessary in photography – only when you find the balance between light and darkness, you will create a photo. Similar to life itself, isn’t it." Photos

Hako Hankson was born in Kamerun as Gaston Hako in 1968. His father was a traditional sculptor and a dignitary whose role was to keep cultural ceremonial objects needed for all the initiation rites of the chiefdom. Due to his father’s special tasks, Hankson was given rare access to objects such as sceptres, totems and masks, which he shows again and again in his works. As a self-taught artist, he first started with drawing, and then with painting. He lives and works in Douala, Kamerun. He has already exhibited in Switzerland, Cameroon, Senegal and Portugal. He has been selected for the Biennale 2020 in Dakar. In 2021 he exhibited in London with Le Sud Gallery (Switzerland) at African Art Fair 1-54.

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Gavin Kendo, born in 1997 in Nairobi/Kenya, is a self-taught visual artist and also has a degree in geospatial engineering. His work invites you on an introspective journey where the serenity of nature blends with the turbulence of the soul. From this he creates a captivating visual narrative about his own sensibilities. Through his art, he delves into the complexities of human existence, navigating the depths of doubt, the heights of bliss, the heaviness of existential angst and the pure elation of happiness - all at the same time. Paintings

George Lilanga was born in 1934. He lived in Dar es Salaam / Tanzania and is one of the most important contemporary African artists. His works are anchored in the spirit world of the Makonde and are characterized by their own distinctive style. George was a terrific sculptor and painter. His works include a variety of sculptures, paintings, drawings, etchings, batiks and metalwork. Through a series of international exhibitions, Lilanga's works are known to art lovers and collectors in Europe, America and Asia. He died in June 2005. Paintings

Hendrick Lilanga was born in 1974 in Tanzania es Salaam. He lived and learned from his grandfather. His long stays in Japan and South Korea influenced his artwork. Hendrick has exhibited internationally at a very young age, including South Korea, Japan and Uganda. Paintings

Kyunyu Pauline Makala always wanted to be an artist: "Painting allows me to express myself, reach many people and share positive feelings." Kyunyu was born in 1991 and grew up in Mwanza (Tanzania) on the shores of Lake Victoria. She is the daughter of a bank manager and a nurse and has two brothers. Her creativity was encouraged and supported by her environment. However, she also fulfilled her parents' wishes and initially completed a classical education. She graduated from the University of Mwanza (Tanzania) with a degree in Procurement and Logistics Management. She is registered with the university's Procurement and Supplies Professionals and Technicians Board (PSPTB) and has been living in Zanzibar since early 2024. Here she continues to work as an authorized signatory and has started her career as an artist. Paintings

J. P. Meyer was born in 1960 in Bloemfonteine, South Africa. After studying social work and several years of professional experience as a flight attendant, he decided in 1996 to study art at the Foundation School of Art in Cape Town. He lives in Porterville, South Africa. J. P. Meyer has already exhibited successfully in various galleries in South Africa. His subject-specific picture series are fascinating. Paintings

David Mzuguno was born in the rural village of Gonja Bombo, Northern Tanzania. From 1967 he lived and worked in Dar es Salaam and was strongly committed to the Tinga Tinga Centre. In 1989 he moved to Kahaba, 15 km from the city centre and distanced himself from the Tinga Tinga Centre. Mzuguno died in June 2010 and his exhibitions have been shown in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Brussels, Japan, South Korea and China. Paintings

Miska Mohmmed Ngeeb was born in 1995 in Sudan. Miska loves to travel. It inspires her. In her works she develops a connection between a sketch she made in a certain place on a trip, with her personal mood while painting and her artistic interpretation of the coloring. Miska Mohmmed graduated with a BFA in painting from Sudan University's College of Fine and Applied Arts in 2016. Sudan University in 2016. She already has had exhibited in Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Tunisia. Paintings

Annah Nkyalu, Tanzanian born 1997 is a figurative visual artist and art teacher. Working in different mediums especially ink pen on Paper and canvas. A pen was always on her hands while she was at school where she mostly had the urge to draw, for that she mastered it earlier than any other medium. Her works usually takes many hours of concentration involving many layers of pen strokes. Annah is a social activist as her works reflects the society's strength and struggles portraying issues involving youth of different gender. Her work has been exhibited locally and internationally and she was the winner of Tanzania fine artist’s competition by TFA (2019) as well as the second runner in Young upcoming artists by Mulika organization (2022). Paintings

Raja Oshi was born in Sudan in 1968. 1994 she graduated at the College of fine art at the University of Science and Technology in Khartoum. In 2004 she moved from Sudan to South Africa. In 2006 she received a postgraduate diploma from the University KwaZulu-Natal. Raja lives with her family in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Her exhibitions have been shown in South Africa, United Kingdom, Tanzania and Norway. Paintings

Hussein Salim was born in Karima, Sudan in 1966. He studied Art at the University of Sudan for Science and Technology in Khartoum. In 2014 he moved from Sudan to South Africa. He lives with his wife Raja and their two children in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. His exhibitions have been shown in Sudan, South Africa, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, Japan and in the USA. His works were also awarded in Great Britain and Germany. Paintings

Michael Soi was born in Kenya in 1972. 1995 he graduated at the College of fine art at the University of Since and Technology in Nairobi. He still lives and works in Nairobi. Michael Soi’s works have been shown outside Kenya in the USA, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, in the United Kingdom, South Korea, Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria and Ethiopia. In 2021 he exhibited in London with Le Sud Gallery (Switzerland) at African Art Fair 1-54. Paintings

E.S. Tinga Tinga was born in 1932 in Tanzania. The creative time of E.S. was very short and therefore the number of his works is limited. In 1972 he died in a tragic accident. E.S. Tinga Tinga is the founder of Tinga Tinga painting. His works have been exhibited in museums and galleries all over the world. Paintings

Fitsum Berhe Woldelibanos was born in Ethiopia. Later he moved to Eritrea where he completed his studies in painting, sculpture and print making at the Asmara School in 2000. In 2003 Fitsum went to Kenya where he started creating artwork that explores the relationship between human and their environment. His sizeable, intense portraits are an enquiry into the social, cultural  and geographical influences in the construction of identity and the self. Using a hypnotizing color palette, his paintings are a contemplation of the human form and condition. Applying generous strokes of bold acrylic colour, he forms the features and physiques of real and imagined subjects. Fitsum’s figure paintings express intense emotion and raw sentiments to resonate with the viewer. The Paintings we are showing are mostly out of our private collection but for sale. His work has been exhibited in Kenya, Canada, France, Spain, South Korea, Dubai, the Netherlands and Germany. Paintings