With the rise of each subsequent generation of artists, the status quo of art history is questioned. At Zambian gallery Imvelo Studios, a new group show brings together emerging talents across mediums, casting a sharp eye over the country’s new class of artists—and their unique approach not only to art making but perspective on creative expression.
Imvelo Studios founder and curator of the show Ng’onga Silupya explained in a statement accompanying the exhibition: “In Zambia, youth is often discussed as a ‘demographic dividend.’ This exhibition shifts this perspective, asserting that the youth are the current pulse of the nation. By dedicating this space to the young creatives, the exhibition honors their role as social commentators and cultural custodians.”
Boyd Bishonga, Time to Sleep (2025). Courtesy of Imvelo Studios.
A significant contributing factor to the strength of “Rise and Shine” is the diversity of mediums and styles included—most notably the use of abstraction in various forms and to different degrees.
In the work of figurative painter Jeremiah Ludaka, representation, abstraction, and fantasy coalesce into an alternate world. In compositions like Ninvela nsoni Kutaya Chemba, while the portraiture is legible and the representational details of the face and hands are attended to with meticulous care, the background, subject’s garb, and details like the small table are reduced to saturated planes of color.
Contrary to Ludaka’s refined linework, Boyd Bishonga’s paintings are highly gestural, and leveraging Neo-Expressionist techniques the impasto quality of his paints convey a sense that the elements of the painting, such as in Time to Sleep (2025), might just fall out into the third dimension.
Kaluba B. Chilawa, Ukukusha Aban (2024). Courtesy of Imvelo Studios.
Elsewhere, the lithe lines and polished surfaces of Kaluba B. Chilawa’s sculptures provide a powerful entrypoint to explore and reflect on cultural identity and heritage. Through their figuration, they further unpack ideas around family, the evolving roles of women, and identity across Zambian history and society. Totemic and enigmatic, each work defies easy interpretation.
And juxtaposed works by Hassan Yasini and Clare Chilemu spotlight shifts and experimentation in printmaking. Where Yasini employs traditional printing techniques, Chilemu works within the field of digital prints. Each has developed a singular practice that speaks to the myriad interpretations still to be found within the field of prints.
Unifying the show, Hezroth Simanda’s multimedia compositions employ traditional elements—graphite, paint, canvas—but they are synthesized to produce works that cannot be easily categorized as either painting or drawing, but are instead something idiosyncratic and personal.
Hassan Yasini, Mushroom Growers (2026). Courtesy of Imvelo Studios.
Together, the show is a testament to the indomitable spirit of youth, and a glimpse at the future of art itself.
“‘Rise and Shine is an invitation to witness the ‘Golden Hour’ of Zambian contemporary art,” said Silupya. “It takes the viewer to immerse themselves in the authenticity and memorable aspects of artworks. As we commemorate the youth of Zambia, we celebrate more than just an age group, we celebrate a movement of light, form, and unapologetic presence.”
Explore the work of Zambian artists with Imvelo Studios.
