Born 1971 in Kampala, Uganda
Lives and works in Kampala, Uganda
Mzili’s work references his immediate environment, both natural and man-made, to construct scenarios of heroism that seek to champion human strength and empathy. His work features numerous seemingly disparate objects brought together into a single frame. They are set in intimate spaces where highly personal interactions take place – often combining several such spaces into one. The title of his works describe the interactions within the paintings themselves, and at the same time allude to external associations. The renowned painter and printmaker is an indigenous expressionist: making reference to his intuition, childhood memories, and learned practice to create artworks.
In 2003, Mzili was a winner of the Royal Overseas League Art Scholarship, and in 2022 he was shortlisted for the Norval Sovereign African Art Prize. His work is in several prestigious collections and has been exhibited globally, including at ARCO Lisbon 2022, South South Veza 2021, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair New York 2019, Cape Town Art Fair 2017/18, and FNB Art Joburg 2016.