Dennis Kimbugwe (1997) is a Ugandan artist working with photography and text. His creative practice explores the construction and performance of identity, as well as the complexities of marginalized existence.
His work has been recognized at the Uganda Press Photo Awards in 2018 and 2019, the Future Africa Visions in Time in partnership with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and Goethe-Zentrum Kampala photography competition in 2019, and the Alexia Student Grant in 2019. In 2020, he was selected as an apprentice for the fourth Kampala Art Biennale under the guidance of acclaimed photographer Andrew Tshabangu. In 2021, he received the Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund and was part of the Skillshare Teachlab residency. He served as a judge for the UPPA Young Photographer Award in 2021 and 2022, and has mentored emerging photographers in the UPPA Mentorship Programme from 2021 to 2023. His work has been published in The New York Times, The Financial Times, City Press, The Atlantic, Architectural Digest Italia, La Lettura in Corriere della Sera, Il Giornale dell'Arte, and Hestetika.
He holds a Master of Fine Art in Photography from Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic, and a Bachelor of Science in Multimedia and Animation from ISBAT University Kampala in Uganda. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Advanced Programme in Photography from the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa.
EDUCATION:
Master of Fine Art in Photography (MFA)
Jan Evangelista Purkyné University, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic, September 2021 - June 2023.
THESIS: "Unbound Desire; Race Play and Performing Racism in Online Social-Sexual Spaces."
ECTS: 125 (Cum Laude)
Advanced Programme in Photography (APP)
Market Photo Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa, February 2020 - December 2020.
Bachelor of Science in Multimedia & Animation (B.Sc. MMA)
ISBAT University Kampala, Uganda, September 2016 - November 2019.
THESIS: "Selfie-ish Ugandans; Have Selfies Affected the Growth of Photography in Uganda?"
GPA: 4.99/5.0 (Cum Laude)
International Computer Driving License (ICDL)
Jaffery Institute of Professional Studies, Mombasa, Kenya, February 2016 - April 2016.
GRANTS, RESIDENCIES, AND AWARDS:
2023 FUD/UJEP Fine Art - Photography Studio Award, Recipient.
2022 FUD/UJEP Fine Art - Photography Studio Award, Recipient.
2021 SKILLSHARE Teach Lab Program, Resident.
2021 FORMAT International Portfolio Review Bursary, Recipient.
2021 Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund, Commission for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
2020 Kampala Art Biennale, Apprentice to Award-winning Photographer, Andrew Tshabangu.
2019 The Alexia Student Grant, Shortlist (Top 28/Worldwide Open Call).
2019 Uganda Press Photo Award, Honourable Mention, People.
2019 Young Photographer Award, Honourable Mention.
2019 FAVT (Future Africa Visions in Time) Photo Contest, 2nd place winner.
2018 Uganda Press Photo Award, 2nd Place Winner Daily Life and 2nd Place Winner Environment.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2023 Speak To Me Softly, Lover!, House of Culture, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
2022 New Utopias, Rampa Gallery, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
2022 Homosajja (Solo), Rampa Gallery, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
2022 Shifting Narratives, Melrose Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2022 Working The Land, The Market Theatre, Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2022 Bittersweet Swinging Times, Rampa Gallery, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
2021 Ihiya Pieces. Particles. Perpetuity, Windybrow Arts Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2021 Award Winning African Photography - Photo Basel Takes a Closer Look, Basel, Switzerland.
2021 Get Up Stand Up, Kampala Art Biennale (KAB20) Virtual Experience, Kampala, Uganda.
2020 Showcase, Market Photo Workshop, Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2019 Uganda Press Photo Award, Kampala Railway Station, Uganda.
2019 FAVT (Future Africa Visions in Time) Exhibition, Goethe-Zentrum Kampala, Uganda.
2018 Uganda Press Photo Award, The Square Kampala, Uganda.
MENTORING AND JURYING:
2023 Young Photographer Award 2023, Member of the Jury.
2022 UPPA Emerging Photographer Mentorship Programme 2022, Mentor.
2022 Young Photographer Award 2022, Member of the Jury.
2021 UPPA Emerging Photographer Mentorship Programme 2021, Mentor.
2021 Young Photographer Award 2021, Member of the Jury.
PUBLICATIONS:
2023 MFA Thesis: "Unbound Desire; Race Play and performing Racism in Online Social-Sexual Spaces."
2021 Uganda Press Photo Award 10th Anniversary Book: "The Role of Photography and Future Approaches Towards Photography Education on the African Continent."
2019 BSc Thesis: "Selfie-ish Ugandans; Have Selfies Affected the Growth of Photography in Uganda?"
TALKS:
2021 Photography Education and its Sources, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
2020 Art Criticism - Giving and Receiving Critique in the Visual Arts, Silhoute Talk #3, Online.
2019 Future Africa Visions in Time - Uganda Middle Class, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
TEACHING:
2022 Pre-Production for Portrait Photography: Finding Inspiration Before a Portrait Shoot, Skillshare.
2021 Portrait Photography: Creating Compelling Photos with Low-Budget Lighting and Adobe Lightroom, Skillshare.