Artist Statement
When I create, I draw who I am. For many years, I ran from my name, my roots, and the identity I was born into, believing that distance was necessary to grow. Over time, I realized that my name, my culture, and my ancestry are not things to escape — they are things to carry forward, preserve, and celebrate.
I live where my ancestors once lived, and in many ways, they live within me. My work grows from this awareness. Through portraits, traditional attire, and cultural spaces like the cattle camp, I invite viewers to witness identities that are alive, present, and meaningful.
My art is not about recreating the past, but about honoring it while celebrating the present and carrying identity forward into the future. I draw who I am — and in doing so, I celebrate who we are.
Biography
Denis Angura is a self-taught visual artist born in South Sudan and currently based in Kenya. His work explores identity, cultural memory, and self-acceptance. Drawing from his personal experience and ancestral roots, Angura reflects on how heritage, tradition, and individual identity continue to live through people and everyday life.
Through portraits, depictions of traditional attire, and cultural spaces such as the cattle camp, his work preserves and celebrates African identities with dignity and care. Angura was among the first local South Sudanese artists to exhibit internationally, participating in the Basmat Lon exhibition in Turkey, where he received an award of participation. His work has also been showcased in multiple local exhibitions, earning recognition for its thoughtful exploration of identity and cultural continuity.
By creating from this place of reflection, Angura affirms the value of identity, belonging, and cultural memory, inviting viewers to witness and celebrate the living heritage carried forward through his art.
Exhibitions & workshops
Local Group Exhibitions
3rd April 2025 — Baobab House
29th December 2024 — Fire Tree
9th July 2024 — Fire Tree
26th November 2023 — Fire Tree
17th October 2023 — Baobab House
4th November 2022 — Scenius Hub
2nd September 2022 — Scenius Hub
workshops
21 July 2023 — University of Juba, School of Art, Music and Drama Art Workshop by Professor Khalid Kodi (Boston College)
11 January 2020 — Hope Society 3-day Art Workshop & Exhibition by Professor Khalid Kodi (Boston College)
International Exhibitions
7 September 2022 — Basmt Lon, Turkey