Josélyna Pemba is a contemporary artist known for her satirical poetry and unique aesthetic. Whether painting acrylics, using photography or collage or sculpting, she depicts fantastical characters with humorous, sometimes childlike or mythical appearances with a satirical edge, leaving an itch of ambiguity.

"We are all part of one interconnected ecosystem called life, but there are so many imbalances. It is easy to overlook and underestimate the importance of the fragile, the marginalized, the infinite small."

Josèlyna Pemba Kingalu (1990) was born in Angola, into a large and modest family. She studied Humanité Artistique at the Institute of Fine Arts before earning a degree in Visual Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa in 2012. A multi-disciplinary artist, she works across painting, photography, performance, and sculpture. The depth and aesthetic richness of her work have earned her recognition both nationally and internationally.

Pemba is a (founding) member of several artistic collectives and institutions, including the FORMOGAS collective, the RUI DE MATOS Foundation, the Young Artists of the Future Association, the Union of Angolan Artists (UNAP), Artcom Expo International Association of Artists and Partners, and the Colectivo de Mulheres Brasil / Indigenous Nation / Africa.

Her artistic universe is a surreal blend of satire and mythology. Using different techniques of acrylic painting, photography and collage, she creates a colorful world inhabited by hybrid beings—skeletal, nudes or mythical figures with kaleidoscopic faces, insects, and fantastical avatars that emerge from trees and their environment. These creatures symbolize societal realities, offering a paradoxical perspective on existence. 

Her work carries a strong ecological message, emphasizing the delicate balance between the natural world and human existence. She highlights elements often overlooked in modern society, reminding viewers of the interconnectedness of all living things. Through her dreamlike compositions, she encourages reflection on the fragile balance between the infinitely small and the infinitely large.

But Pemba does not shy away from the social domain either. In her latest Royal-series she reaches back to the mythical heroism of pre-colonial kingdoms, albeit with a distinct satirical edge. Mixing references to ancient symbolism and modern life realities, she leaves her spectators with a sense of ambiguity, interpreting and re-interpreting what they actually see, wondering about the ironic disparities of life.

Like African storytellers, like Jean de La Fontaine, Pemba eventually uses her art to convey moral lessons. Her surreal characters embody values such as love, humility, respect, dialogue and fraternity—virtues she sees fading in today’s consumer-driven world.

Pemba has been participating in many solo and group exhibitions in Africa and beyond, notably in Angola, DRC, Brazil, Peru, Bangladesh, Portugal, UK and the Netherlands. She has been awarded the 2nd prize in the prestigious Ensa Arte Grand premium competition 2022.