Birungi Kawooya: Contemporary Collage Art and Wellbeing Workshops

Birungi Kawooya is a London-based collage artist, art tutor, and wellbeing researcher whose work is deeply rooted in the celebration of Black womanhood and the exploration of African heritage. As a self-taught creator, Birungi Kawooya developed a unique mixed-media technique that integrates traditional Ugandan materials—such as olubugo (bark cloth) and banana fibre—with contemporary batik textiles, paper, and card. Her vibrant portraits often depict figures in moments of rest, joy, or engaged in dance, drawing specific inspiration from Kiganda dance and the African diaspora's somatic movements. Through her practice, Birungi Kawooya addresses the intersection of art and healing justice. She facilitates Artful Healing playshops and retreats designed for Black women and marginalized communities, using sensory-based practices to promote mental health and collective trauma resolution. Her projects and collaborations with institutions like Peckham Platform and the Science Gallery London highlight her commitment to community-based art that serves as a tool for resistance and renewal. Birungi Kawooya also works as a cultural producer and researcher, exploring how natural fibres and creative expression can provide a safe space for marginalized individuals to reconnect with their bodies and imaginations. Her artistic journey is a testament to the power of representation, transforming her personal explorations of identity into a public resource for well-being and social justice.