Ian Mwesiga

Ian Mwesiga (b. 1988; Kampala, Uganda) drafts paintings that reflect a perpetual ardor, defying perspective by either replicating or inventing his own proportions and compositions, while preserving a continuous lyricism. His influences allude to both classical and contemporary painting.

Mwesiga’s practice revolves around inset topography: the psychological world of his figures and their placement within imagined cosmoses. In his universe, impenetrable access is paradoxically granted—subjects appear as snapshots of a dream. Boundaries between self and other dissolve, leaving intimate impressions suspended between reality and desire.

His paintings possess a mesmerizing quality, with surprising dimensionality emerging from his masterful use of vibrant colors that skillfully skew ordinary perspective. The foreground defines a sense of balance, while the backdrop immerses the viewer in an infinite garden-scape.

His work has been the subject of solo exhibitions such as Beyond the Edge of the World at The FLAG Art Foundation, New York (2024), and Theater of Dreams at Mariane Ibrahim, Chicago (2022). Mwesiga has also participated in prominent group exhibitions including When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting at Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town (2023); Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland (2024); and BOZAR – Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels (2025). His work is held in collections including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA, among others.

Mwesiga graduated with a BA in Industrial Fine Art & Design from Makerere University, Uganda, in 2014. He has participated in residencies such as Àsìkò Art School (Mozambique, 2015), facilitated by Bisi Silva, and CCA Lagos (Nigeria). He is also a recipient of the Moving Africa Award, Goethe Institute (2014).