(b. 1983, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Thonton Kabeya captures the essence of African cosmopolitanism through his constructions of contemporary urban life using paint and canvas. Having travelled across the African continent extensively, Kabeya lived and worked as an artist in Paris, before settling in Johannesburg in 2014. Kabeya actively challenges his medium of paint and canvas, pursuing new and experimental ways to create texture, depth, and balance of colour. His process involves glueing layers of canvas together, which he then cuts, carves, and sculpts before painting. Kabeya finishes the work with transferred elements from newspapers, carefully positioned to indicate the folds of moving fabric, and the application of a deep brown walnut powder (an old method of staining wooden furniture) which renders skin, as well as balances the tonality of the work. 

Inspired by architecture and design, Kabeya's practice seeks balance in composition, line, and colour in his three-dimensional work. He creates portraits of people and cities alike, bustling street scenes and tender exchanges between individuals. His recent works have focused on rhumba dancing, inspired by the dance studios and clubs frequented by the artist. Rumba music is of Cuban origin, and gained enormous popularity in the Congo during the 1960s and 70s. Dance is a much-loved form of expression, and is in many ways a performance of personhood. The Congolese rumba was recently added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list as "The rumba is considered an essential and representative part of the identity of Congolese people and its diaspora. It is perceived as a means of conveying the social and cultural values of the region and of promoting intergenerational and social cohesion and solidarity." - UNESCO, 2021.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 

2023  

FNB Art Joburg, with Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Introspect, Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa

2022

A Sunny Day, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa 

Pasada, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

La Rumba Rosa 2, Bonne Espérance Gallery, Paris, France

2021

La Rumba Rosa, One Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019

Galerie Bilembo, Kinshasa, Congo

2018

ODA Gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa 

2017

ODA Gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa                                                        

2015

Cry Smile Dream, S Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa  

2014

New Voices, Lizamore and Associates Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa  

2010

Médiathèque Woluwe, st Pierre, Bruxelles, Belgium 

Galerie dialogue, National Museum of Lubumbashi, Congo

2009

Métamorphose, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France   

Metamorphose, Arte kalao galeria, Bilbao, Spain   

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Dakar Biennale, Dakar, Senegal

2023

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2022

Spring, group show, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

UCCLE / Brussels, Belgium

2021

A Cloud, Gallery 2, Johannesburg, South Africa

Salon Globalisto, Bonne Esperance Gallery, Paris, France

Work on Paper, Art voice Gallery,  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia       

2017

The Gravity of Things, Artium Basque Museum Centre of Contemporary Art of Vitoria-Gastei, Alava, Spain 

2012

Institut Francais of Lubumbashi, Congo 

2008

Vision for Africa, Archelle, Germany

Midi Libre, Mas de grille, Montpellier, France 

Rencontres Picha Biennale De Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi , Congo 

Dakar Biennale (Off Biennale), Gallery L. S. Senghor, Dakar, Senegal

2007

Yambi, Museum of Modern Art and Contemporain Art (MAMAC) Liège, Belgium. 

Burogest, Business Centre, Namur, Belgium 

French institute, Congo 

2006

Memling Hotel, Kinshasa 

Belgium Consulate, Congo 

National Museum of Lubumbashi, Congo

2005

French institute of Lubumbashi  

Musée national de Lubumbashi

RESIDENCIES   

2024   

Noldor Artist Residency, Accra, Ghana

2022    

Everard Read at Leeu Estates, Franschhoek, South Africa

2014

Thupelo Workshop, Prince Albert  

2013

Institut Francais of Lubumbashi, Workshop, Congo 

2010

Galerie d’art contemporain Workshop, Musée de Lubumbashi, Congo 

2009

Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, France 

2008

Village des arts, Sénégal  

2006

The fine art of Kinshasa Workshop, Centre Wallonie Bruxelles, Kinshasa  

2003

Ecole de beaux arts, Workshop, Lubumbashi 

COLLECTIONS  

University of South Africa Art Collection, Pretoria 

Artium Basque Museum Center of Contemporary Art of Vitoria-Gastei, Alava, Spain 

George Forest Art Collection, Lubumbashi 

Sanaa Art Collection, Johannesburg

Erick Vellard Art Collection, Paris 

AWARDS

2024 

Ampersand Fellowship Award (Residency), New York, USA

2006 

UNIADS Award 

Belgium Council Award