THONTON KABEYA
(b. 1983, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Kabeya challenges his medium of paint and canvas, pursuing new and experimental ways to create texture, depth and balance of colour. He glues layers of canvas together which he then cuts, carves and sculpts before painting. He finishes the work with transfers from newspaper, carefully positioned to indicate the three-dimensional qualities of fabric. He then carefully applies a deep brown walnut powder (an old method of staining wooden furniture) to render skin, as well as to balance the overall tonality of the work.

Inspired by architecture and design, Kabeya's practice seeks balance in composition, line and colour. 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. The rhumba music is of Cuban origin, Cuba having an important historical link to Africa through the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and the rhumba dance gained enormous popularity in the Congo during the 1960's and 70's – in recognition of its cultural significance, the Congolese Rhumba was recently added to UNESCOs intangible heritage list.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025
Introspect II, UNISA Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa

2023
FNB Art Joburg, solo booth, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
Introspect, Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa
A Sunny Day, Everard Read Franschhoek, South Africa

2022
Pasada, Everard Read Johannesburg, South Africa
La Rumba Rosa 2, Bonne Espérance Gallery, Paris, France
Galerie Bilembo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

2021
La Rumba Rosa, One Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019
Galerie Bilembo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of 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, Democratic Republic of Congo

2009
Métamorphose, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France
Metamorphose, Arte kalao galeria, Bilbao, Spain

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025
10 Year | Summer 2025, Everard Read, London, UK
EXPO CHICAGO, with Everard Read, Chicago, USA
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2024
Inner Sanctum, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
Winter Collection, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Dakar Biennale, Dakar, Senegal
EXPO CHICAGO, with Everard Read, Chicago, USA

2023
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
The Other’s Warmth, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
110 Year Anniversary, Everard Read, London, UK

2022
Spring, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
UCCLE / Brussels, Belgium
Winter, Everard Read, London, UK

2021
A Cloud, Gallery 2, Johannesburg, South Africa
Salon Globalisto, Bonne Esperance Gallery, Paris, France
Work on Paper, Art voice Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Turbine Art Fair, with One Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2020
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Eclectica Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa

2018
Turbine Art Fair, with One Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2017
The Gravity of Things, Artium Basque Museum Centre of Contemporary Art of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain

2015
FNB Joburg Art Fair, with Bag Factory, Johannesburg, South Africa

2012
Institut Francais of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

2008
Vision for Africa, Archelle, Germany
Midi Libre, Mas de grille, Montpellier, France
Rencontres Picha Biennale De Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
Dakar Biennale (Off Biennale), Gallery L. S. Senghor, Dakar, Senegal

2007
Yambi, Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art (MAMAC), Liège, Belgium
Burogest, Business Centre, Namur, Belgium
French institute, Democratic Republic of Congo

2006
Memling Hotel, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Belgium Consulate, Democratic Republic of Congo
National Museum of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

2005
French institute of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
National Museum of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

RESIDENCIES

2022
Everard Read at Leeu Estates, Franschhoek, South Africa

2014
Thupelo Workshop, Prince Albert, South Africa

2013
Institut Francais of Lubumbashi, Workshop, Democratic Republic of Congo

2010
Galerie d’art contemporain Workshop, Musée de Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

2009
Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, France

2008
Village des arts, Sénégal

2006
The fine art of Kinshasa Workshop, Centre Wallonie Bruxelles, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

2003
Ecole de beaux arts, Workshop, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

COLLECTIONS

University of South Africa Art Collection, Pretoria
Artium Basque Museum Center of Contemporary Art of Vitoria-Gasteiz, 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