Jonathan Vatunga
Painter | DR Congo / France
Jonathan Vatunga’s work originates in the observation of the daily struggles. It reflects a society where, as he says, “men are destroyed by men”.
Portrait
Jonathan Vatunga (1996), graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinsasha, DRC in 2017, received early recognition for his candid paintings and collages in his own unique style and symbolism. Originating from a society with many conflicts and issues, Vatunga is deeply committed to exposing his observations of daily struggles in society and finding new hope and solutions. In the world of Vatunga “men are destroyed by men”, societies are fragile and disintegrated, full of injustice, with many people being displaced and suffering. Sometimes bordering the revolutionary, openly criticizing political leaders and situations, Vatunga also seeks to create hope, beauty and joy.
Vatunga typically presents a colourful and dynamic world in constant transformation by depicting its people. He forms his different characters by superimposed lines, disintegrating or decomposing under the pressure of society. He often uses collages of photographs an/or strong symbolism to give meaning to his characters and uses glasses to reflect their inner visions. He deconstructs the figure of the human body by showing the life that is being reconstructed, a story that is being rewritten.
Over the past few years, Vatunga has been participating internationally in many exhibitions in DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South-Africa, France, Netherlands and Hong Kong, featured at AKAA Paris 2021 and has been auctioned in Brussels and Paris.
Jonathan Vatunga (1996), graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinsasha, DRC in 2017, received early recognition for his candid paintings and collages in his own unique style and symbolism. Originating from a society with many conflicts and issues, Vatunga is deeply committed to exposing his observations of daily struggles in society and finding new hope and solutions. In the world of Vatunga “men are destroyed by men”, societies are fragile and disintegrated, full of injustice, with many people being displaced and suffering. Sometimes bordering the revolutionary, openly criticizing political leaders and situations, Vatunga also seeks to create hope, beauty and joy.
Vatunga typically presents a colourful and dynamic world in constant transformation by depicting its people. He forms his different characters by superimposed lines, disintegrating or decomposing under the pressure of society. He often uses collages of photographs and/or strong symbolism to give meaning to his characters and uses glasses to reflect their inner visions. He deconstructs the figure of the human body by showing the life that is being reconstructed, a story that is being rewritten.
Over the past few years, Vatunga has been participating internationally in many exhibitions in DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South-Africa, France, Netherlands and Hong Kong, featured at AKAA Paris 2021 and has been auctioned in Brussels and Paris.
Works
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Credentials
2023
- #Faces, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2021
- AKAA Paris, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Lille ArtUp!, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
2020
- Discovery Art Fair Frankfurt, Germany, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Stanley’s auction, Brussels, Belgium
- Roots, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Auction Rennes Enchères, Rennes, France
- Art Capital, contemporary art fair, Grand Palais, Paris, France
- Hello 2020!, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2019
- Darkness rising, Eclectica Contemporary Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
- Oda Fine Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
- ST-ART Strasbourg, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Mulhouse Art Fair, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
- New World, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Congo Eyes, Afric’art Gallery, Hong Kong, China
2018
- Pullman Grand Hotel, Kinshasa Exhibition Auctions, Lisanga ya BIKOLO, Gala
- TASOK, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Gala Evening Exhibition, Ijaia Gallery ODE Africa Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition Immigration and Integration, Dakar Biennial OFF, Senegal
- Foundation exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Regards exhibition, Mechand Bank TMB Trust Bank, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition FARA at the foundation the house of the artist, Ivory Coast
- Exhibition Source of Talent, 75 years of the Académies des Beaux-Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
2017
- Exhibition Open Door, the Embassy of Canada, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition Auctions, Elengi ya kokela TASOK Gala, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition, Sculpt our dreams, Second edition at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition crossing at the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
2016
- Art and Environment Exhibition at Trust Mechand Bank TMB Bank, Kinshasa Exhibition Plural Dimension at Wallonia Center Brussels, Kinshasa, DR Congo
2015
- Open exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Emergence 2 exhibition, Pullman Grand Hotel, Kinshasa, DR Conco
- Exhibition Passion of Art, Pullman Grand Hotel, Kinshasa, DR Congo
2014
- Emergence exhibition, Pullman Grand Hotel, Kinshasa, DR Congo
2019
- OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2018
- Village Assouinde, Ivory Coast
- Jean Pigozzi, Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC), Switzerland
- Thierry Lemoine Private Collection, France
- Moreau Family Private Collection, France
- Private Collection of Michel Champregne, France
- Private Collection of Wirth Hortana, Haiti
- Mboh Elango Private Collection, United States
- Private Collection of Staines Couple, United States
- Private collection of Matthew Steuer, United States
- Private collection of Elisabeth Bitliff, Ghana
- Private Collection of Christopher the Younger, Belgium
- Steve Vermer Private Collection, Belgium
- Private collection of Jamil, Brazil
- Piette Private Collection, Hong Kong
- Private Collection by Rene Houton Miles, Hungary
- Ginnette Private Collection, Canada
- Gérard Lokossou Private Collection, Ivory Coast
- Private Collection of Othnan, Ivory Coast
- Private collection of Sina Hanke, DR Congo
- Rawbank Private Collection, DR Congo
2023
- #Faces, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2021
- Reflux (duo exhibition with Bouvy Enkobo), OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- AKAA Paris, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
2020
- Roots, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2019
- New World, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands