Sungi Mlengeya’s paintings consist of dark figures in minimal shades of black and browns, placed against perfectly white backgrounds. Her topics vary from self-discovery to empowerment, but common themes in her work are centered around women, specifically black women. Mlengeya sheds light on the stories of black women, herself included, and explores the journeys, struggles, accomplishments and relationships these women have with their immediate societies. She works primarily in the acrylic medium on canvas, creating paintings that are free, minimalist and with a curious use of negative space. Mlengeya is a self-taught painter who in 2013, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and finance. In 2018, she left her job in banking to pursue a full-time art career.

Her work has been exhibited at Cape town Art fair 2020, Latitudes Art Fair 2019 and ‘Surfaces’ conceptual workshop and exhibition 2019 at Afriart Gallery Kampala, where Mlengeya was mentored by Henry ‘Mzili’ Mujunga.