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Emmanuel Makonga

Presented by Art Access/VSA Arts of Utah at Art Access Gallery

April 17-May 7, 2009

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Art Access Gallery is pleased to show the recent work of Emmanuel Makonga, an artist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Artists' Reception will be held on Friday, April 17 from 6:00pm-9:00pm, during the Salt Lake City Gallery Stroll. Makonga will show a series of new watercolors that focuses on life in Africa and, possibly, some scenes from his more recent life in the United States. The artist was born in the DRC, Central Africa, in 1962. He graduated from a high school that trained students to be teachers and then attended a college in Kinshasa, where he received a degree in fine arts. While a student, he created an image depicting the Fight Against AIDS, which became a postage stamp. After his schooling, he worked as a painter, sculptor and cartoonist. It was his cartoons that caused Makonga trouble. His political cartoons, containing strong opinions counter to the government, were run in newspapers in several countries in Africa, in addition to the DRC. He left Africa in 2003, in part to protect his family. His mother, a brother, and sisters still reside in the DRC and hope to live in the United States. Emmanuel Makonga eventually arrived in Columbus, Ohio, with refugee status. In 2008, he moved to Salt Lake City where he is currently making a life for himself. In addition to preparing for the Art Access exhibit, he has created a comic book dealing with protection of the environment. Never one to sit still, Makonga is now looking for a publisher.