Joart Kabeya.

Portfolio.

Artist Statement.

“Art is my obsession, my escape, and my self-discovery and spiritual expression of what I am. With every stroke of my painting knife or brush, I hope to awaken an explosion of creativity within my mind and inspire others to think beyond what’s been thought before.” In addition, Joart Kabeya sees art as a tool for social change & aims to use his work to shed light on the struggles & injustices faced by a contemporary African man. Through his inventive artistic practice called “Coffee-Sukarim.” An Artistic technique of using burnt sugar and ink pens as a way of expressing himself. Joart conveys a message of reflection, combining philosophy and creativity to form a unique approach to contemporary art.

Technique & Medium.

Named after the Swahili word for “sugar”. The “Coffee-Sukarim technique” is a revolutionary approach that embodies creative freedom and embraces the passage of time. The burnt sugar color, resembling the brown color of coffee, symbolizes resilience, defense, and trust in the face of life’s adversities. Meanwhile, its dark aspect symbolizes sadness, dirt, and the consequences of injustice and violence. Kabeya works with a diverse range of mediums. The ink of pens, charcoal, correction ink, a painting knife, wood glue, and paintbrushes, his fingers; sometimes using whatever is around him as a medium to finally create expressive figurative characters that swim in a sea of coffee-colored sugar to tell a story.

His paintings are a tribute to the human anatomy. And he pays close attention to each movement, conveying a story through his work. Nevertheless, Joart’s art is dedicated to giving a voice to the voiceless and advocating for social causes. He wants to educate and provoke emotions, hoping to cultivate a love for contemporary art, and encourage self-reflection. African art has its roots in tradition. But it’s time to break free from the validation of Westerners and tell our own story. The Coffee-Sukarim technique is a step in that direction. As an emerging Contemporary Visual Figurative-Painter Artist, Kabeya dreams of a time when black Contemporary art & its culture will no longer be “denigrated” everywhere in the world. To achieve that: African artists have to stop practicing art to please others.

We instead have to take the risk of discovering the being which is at the bottom of each one of us, to listen to our language, and let ourselves be guided, in order to be able to create our own limits because we are the present, the future, and the basis on which the hope of the existence of a future generation rest.

Joart Kabeya.

Artist Biography.

Joart Kabeya is a talented and creative contemporary figurative painter born in Lubumbashi city, Democratic Republic of Congo. He obtained his high national diploma in painting option at Kiwele Fine Art Institute in 2017. Where he studied visual arts. He sees painting and drawing as a passionate and spiritual form of self-expression and discovery. Joart Kabeya is constantly exploring various fields within contemporary fine art and is known for his unique and captivating creative figurative paintings. He began his professional solo art career in 2019 (DR Congo). And held his first solo art exhibition in 2021 under the theme “behind the mask” at Twice art Gallery (Lusaka, Zambia). Joart Kabeya has featured in several groups’ exhibitions (local & international). The collection of some of his works has been locally and abroad African continent.

He sees painting & drawing as a passionate and spiritual form of self-expression and discovery. Joart Kabeya constantly explores various fields within contemporary fine art and is known for his unique and captivating creative figurative paintings. He is represented by TAAG GALLERY (Tribe Art Africa) in New York/Manathan.

Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought.

Joart Kabeya.

Professional experience.

• Worked for Jomoart Art Agency (Portraits deliverer) 2017-2019.
• Freelance artist in my own working art studio and performs various artistic services (painting commissions, artistic portrait, logo design, interior-exterior decoration, etc.) 2018-2022.
• Individual art teacher as a mentor in my studio and helps talented artists to understand and improve their artistic skills 2018-2022.
• Artistic tutor in my work studio; (planned, assessed & revised curricula, art courses content & artistic academic materials to help Visual Artists (2019-2022).

Major milestone.

• Winner of the African artistic tournament “Djino play the Game”, Griffith category, organized by the Simba beer brewery in 2015 (D. R Congo).
• 1ʳᵉ collective exhibition of young student talents at the Kiwele Institute of Fine Arts (2014-2015) D.R Congo.
• Mini collective charity exhibition of painting auction in favor of orphans, under the high patronage of Lion Club Lubumbashi (R. D Congo) in 2018.
• 1ʳᵉ solo exhibition exhibit at the Art Twice gallery, exhibition under the theme “Behind the mask” (December 5-12th, 2021) (Lusaka, Zambia).
• A certificate for participating in the first biennial international online art exhibition at the I.A.V.P.I.A Museum (International Association of Visual, Performing and Other Arts), under the theme “Extential Truths” (March 03-25th, 2022).
• International physical group art exhibition at the Chena Gallery, March 30 -May 9th, 2022 (Lusaka, Zambia).
• A certificate for having participated in the second International Online Art Biennial of the I.A.V.P.I.A Museum (International Association of Visual, Performing and Other Arts), under the theme “Negative force” from 15th – 20th/05/2022.
• International Online Art exhibition at Artout Festival under the theme “Queering the Pandemic” (June 1 – 30th, 2022) USA, Florida.
• International physical Group Art Exhibition under the theme “Impress me” at Art Alexis Gallery, (November 2nd – 12th,2022) Lagos, Nigeria.
• international online exhibition in honor of black history month, under the theme “Ode to yesteryears” (February 3rd- March 1st..2023 New York |Manhattan (USA) TAAG GALLERY.

Get in Touch.

• Social Medias: Joart Kabeya Official (Instagram, YouTube).
• Email: Joartkabeya8@gmail.com
• Artsy website