news TRUSTED NEW
By Our ReporterUganda’s art scene is celebrating a major international breakthrough after talented visual artist Katesi Jacqueline Kalange was named the winner of the prestigious Cassirer Welz Art Award for 2026.The announcement was made in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Strauss & Co, in partnership with Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, unveiled Kalange as the top artist among a competitive field of finalists drawn from across Sub-Saharan Africa.The victory is a major achievement for Uganda’s creative industry and places Kalange among the continent’s most promising contemporary artists.As part of the award, Kalange will undertake a fully supported three-month residency at Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, one of Africa’s most respected creative hubs. The residency will culminate in a solo exhibition showcasing her work to international audiences.The award ceremony opened with remarks from senior arts leaders who praised the importance of nurturing emerging African talent and strengthening artistic networks across the continent.Kalange emerged victorious from a shortlist that included artists from Nigeria, Botswana and South Africa, highlighting the significance of her achievement on the regional stage.The Cassirer Welz Art Award is regarded as one of South Africa’s most respected art prizes. Established in 2011 by Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer in honour of her late husband Reinhold Cassirer, the award was later renamed to also honour Stephan Welz.Over the years, it has helped launch the careers of numerous artists who have gone on to exhibit globally and become influential figures in contemporary African art.Kalange’s work stands out for its unique use of weaving as both an artistic technique and a way of exploring deeper themes of culture, identity, ecology and community.A graduate of Kyambogo University, she holds both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Art and Industrial Design.Through her woven artworks, Kalange examines the interconnectedness between people, nature and ancestral knowledge. Her practice also promotes community collaboration, drawing inspiration from traditional African systems of shared knowledge and collective creativity.Her growing international reputation has already seen her stage solo exhibitions in Ghana and Nigeria, while also participating in exhibitions in Dubai, Nairobi and Mauritius.The Ugandan artist has accumulated an impressive list of accolades over the years, including the Goethe-Zentrum Kampala Small Project Grant, the Prince Claus Mentorship Award and participation in the prestigious Venice Architecture Biennale College.She has also undertaken residencies in Ghana, Nigeria, London and other major artistic centres, steadily building a reputation as one of East Africa’s most exciting contemporary artists.Her latest triumph now places her firmly in the spotlight as one of Uganda’s leading cultural ambassadors.For Uganda’s creative community, Kalange’s victory is more than a personal achievement—it is a powerful reminder that Ugandan talent continues to command recognition on the international stage.As she prepares for her residency in Johannesburg, many in the country’s arts sector will be watching with pride as another Ugandan artist flies the national flag high before the world.GOT A HOT STORY? EMAIL: redpeppertips@gmail.com WITH AS MUCH EVIDENCE AS POSSIBLE.SOURCE PROTECTION/CONFIDENTIALITY IS OUR NO.1 PRIORITY.About Post Author
Post navigation
Source link
