If edgy and cool art is your style, have we got the artist for you. We spied Musonga Mbogo’s art with a graffiti / street art style and were immediately captivated by his talent.
The raw, expressive brushstrokes of his art tell layer upon layer of stories and we couldn’t wait to sit down and chat with this talented painter.
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Musonga’s artistic talents allow him to travel the world, but Canberra is always home.
“My name is Musonga and I’m a visual artist from Canberra. I primarily express myself through painting.
“Canberra has been my home for most of my life, but now I spend my time between Canberra, Sydney and London. I enjoy travelling but I feel like my love for nature, food and people are what have kept Canberra home,” Musonga tells us.
Art has always played a huge part in Musonga’s life.
“I’m the oldest of 4, so I’ve always wanted to be a good example for my siblings. My family for sure is what got me into art,” says Musonga.
“Painting is something I’ve always enjoyed doing since I was young. I just wanted to see how far I could take it!
My mother is a talented painter and she’s the first person who taught me.
“My parents and grandparents always wanted the best opportunities for us. Academia is important for me as well, so I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
“With art being my full-time role, I’ve quickly learned that running a business comes with its own set of challenges, but that’s life you know?!
“I’m so grateful to be in a position where I get to wake up and create. Sometimes it feels a bit surreal to say I’m a full-time artist!”
His edgy street art style paintings are almost like layered stories.
“When I first started painting, I was inspired by Basquiat,” he explains.
“I was drawn to his ability to tell stories through paintings. The older I get, the more my intuition has stepped in, so I feel like my style is slowly evolving by the day.
“I normally start with a selection of colours using spray paint and acrylic. Once the base is finished, I build my way up from there using oil pastels. The whole process is intuitive.
“My paintings tell the story of my cultural backgrounds. I have Tanzanian and Zimbabwean roots, and grew up in Australia.
“Each canvas is a collection of aspirations and anxieties combined with cultural references. It showcases my life as a young person navigating life as a ‘third culture’ kid.”
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist in the 1980s who formed an integral part of the Neo-expressionism movement at the time.
Canberra Hospital recently invited Musonga to bring his street art style paintings into the newly expanded paediatric ward.
“Being asked to create 50m of artwork at Canberra Hospital was pretty cool,” smiles Musonga.
“I created some wall artworks, along with an interactive sculptural play wall for the childrens wards. It draws on my signature style which is carefully detailed and full of meaning.
“The hope is to distract the children, facilitate learning and allow visitors to explore beloved icons and histories that are unique to Canberra.”
His bold coloured artworks and raw, expressive style has caught the attention of radio station Triple J, inviting Musonga to design some campaign artwork.
“I’ve always loved colours. When done in certain ways they can evoke certain feelings,” says Musonga.
“Colour has been my favourite form of expression since I was young. Even now I spend a lot of time picking and mixing them to get them perfect.
“Getting to design campaign artwork for Triple J in 2023 was pretty cool. I was the first person commissioned by them in 2 decades. That level of trust is surreal!”
Big thank you to the incredibly talented Musonga Mbogo for chatting all things art with us. His street art style is certainly one to watch. You can find Musonga’s art at Hake House or Fenton & Fenton as well as on his own website and via his Instagram page.
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