culture 18 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ugandan Bark Cloth Finds New Life in Iowa Art Exhibition
Curator Sarah Ndagire and artist Stella Atal are showcasing the traditional Ugandan material, lubugo (bark cloth), as a contemporary art form at the Dubuque Museum of Art in Iowa, USA, fostering new dialogues about its history and cultural significance. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/lifestyle/reviews-profiles/ndagire-atal-give-bark-cloth-new-life-at-dubuque-museum-of-art-iowa-us-5600744
Traditional Ugandan bark cloth, known as lubugo, is making a significant impact far from its origins. Curator Sarah Ndagire, drawing from childhood memories of her grandfather crafting the material, has collaborated with artist Stella Atal to present lubugo in a new light at the Dubuque Museum of Art in Iowa, USA.
The exhibition aims to introduce this unique material to audiences unfamiliar with its cultural context, highlighting its potential as a medium for contemporary artistic expression. Ndagire describes bark cloth as a “living canvas,” emphasizing its organic origins from the mutuba tree and its inherent ability to carry stories through its textured surface and natural imperfections.
Artist Stella Atal brings her bold visual language and global perspective to the material, transforming it beyond its traditional ceremonial associations. Her work allows bark cloth to engage in a conversation with modern art, bridging cultural and geographical divides. Ndagire notes that Atal’s approach doesn’t just use the material but reimagines it, adding layers of contemporary interpretation to its historical and cultural roots.
By displaying lubugo in an American museum, the exhibition creates a unique space for discovery. For visitors without the immediate cultural frame of reference common in Uganda, the material becomes an object of curiosity, art, design, and storytelling. Ndagire hopes this encounter sparks curiosity, connection, and reflection, allowing visitors to feel the life, memory, and intention embedded within the bark cloth.
Ndagire sees preservation not as freezing tradition but as ensuring its continuity through adaptation and reinvention. This philosophy extends to her work with AfriWell Hub, which aims to create spaces for African artists and cultural expression, encouraging heritage to be experienced rather than merely observed. The Iowa exhibition is seen as a starting point, with hopes for it to become a travelling show that continues to explore the possibilities of African materials in contemporary art, demonstrating that heritage can remain rooted yet dynamic.