Daniel Atenyi is a self-taught Ugandan artist based in Kampala. After beginning his career with commissioned works, he has transitioned into a more personal and exploratory practice, using art as a lens to investigate complex questions of self-perception and identity.
Rooted in abstract figuration, Atenyi’s work is inspired by the rhythms of daily life and the ways societal change shapes personal experience. His pieces probe the tension between how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others, illuminating the shifting forces that shape identity.
Working primarily on paper, Atenyi experiments across scales and techniques, from delicate sketches to expansive drawings and fluid washes made with water-soluble pigments. His materials, including charcoal and earth-based tones such as coffee, reflect a grounded simplicity that stands in contrast to the layered complexities of his subject matter.
Through his self-sufficient and resourceful practice in which he develops new techniques explores materials, pigments and new materials, Atenyi has cultivated a distinctive visual language; one that reimagines reality through the abstraction of the human form. His work seeks to create a dynamic dialogue with the viewer, opening space for reflection on the fluid and multifaceted nature of identity and perception.

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