arts 13 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Theresa Musoke: Six Decades of Painting Uganda's Beauty and Inspiring Artists
For over 60 years, Ugandan artist and educator Theresa Musoke has captured the nation's landscapes, wildlife, and daily scenes through her vibrant paintings and printmaking. Her career, blending teaching at Makerere University with international training, embodies a deep passion for nature and lifelong learning. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/life/a-life-in-colour-theresa-musoke-s-six-decades-of-art-and-teaching-5388336
Theresa Musoke’s love for art sparked in a school run by nuns, where drawing was a core part of education. This early encouragement led her to Trinity College Nabbingo and then Makerere University, East Africa’s emerging hub for artists. There, she honed skills in painting and printmaking under mentors like Jonathan Kingdom and Michael Adams.
After Makerere, Musoke advanced her craft at London’s Royal College of Art, focusing on printmaking, and later earned an MFA from the University of Pennsylvania. Returning home, she balanced lecturing in painting and graphic arts at Makerere with her studio practice, never abandoning her brush.
Nature became her muse, especially after frequent visits to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Birds, animals, and lush landscapes fill her works, rendered in mixed media like acrylics, inks, pencils, and paints to create textured layers. She explains her draw to wildlife as a profound ‘love for life.’
Despite challenges like scarce art supplies in Uganda, Musoke’s persistence shines. Her philosophy—art demands constant learning and new perspectives—has influenced generations. She celebrates Uganda’s evolving art scene while emphasizing artists’ dedication.
Musoke’s legacy lies in her steady commitment, from classroom sketches to enduring canvases that invite viewers to appreciate everyday beauty.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)