Ugandan artist Eric Joe Gayi’s solo exhibition, Breaking the Norm, is redefining conversations around Afro hair, celebrating it as a symbol of identity, resistance, and cultural pride while confronting deep-seated biases rooted in colonial and Eurocentric standards of beauty.
Currently showing at Summit Residences in Naguru, Kampala, in collaboration with Amasaka Gallery, the exhibition explores the politics of Black hair through Gayi’s distinctive ballpoint pen drawings.
A 2023 Absa L’Atelier ambassador, Gayi uses his art to navigate the tensions between personal expression and social conformity, visibility and erasure, tradition and modernity.
“Hair, for people of African descent, has always been more than a matter of style; it is a living archive of identity, resistance, and cultural pride,” Gayi explained.
“This exhibition is deeply personal. It was born from both reverence for my heritage and painful experiences of discrimination. Through my art, I hope to open conversations about beauty, belonging, and the right to self-expression.”
His works feature intricate human forms rendered in shades of blue and black, a visual metaphor for the struggle between conformity and authenticity.
The blue figures depict individuals who alter their natural hair to fit into societal expectations, while the black figures, marked with honeycomb textures, embody resilience and self-acceptance in the face of prejudice.
Dr Paul Bayliss, Absa’s senior art and museum curator, praised Gayi’s work for its depth and cultural courage.
“Through the Absa L’Atelier programme, we’ve seen African artists use their creativity to challenge, provoke, and inspire. Joe Gayi’s Breaking the Norm does exactly that, it’s bold, deeply reflective, and unapologetically African,” he said.
Collin Sekajugo, founder and director of Amasaka Gallery, said the collaboration aims to encourage Ugandan artists to see beyond traditional boundaries.
“We want to inspire artists to think beyond the canvas, to create work that is globally relevant and socially resonant. Joe’s exhibition is a powerful step in that direction,” he noted.
Now in its 39th year, the Absa L’Atelier remains one of Africa’s most respected art development programmes, offering emerging artists opportunities to showcase their talent on international platforms and to tell their stories through bold, authentic, and transformative art.
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