Banon Lutaaya

Born in Uganda, Benon Lutaaya is a Johannesburg-based visual artist. Within 6years of full time professional practice, Benon's career is making waves punctuated with sale-out shows, artistic recognition, philanthropic work and a clients waiting-list spanning for years. - 2015 winner of South African Arts & Culture Trust Young Impact Award. -"2015 Face of African Youth Foundation" at the ADLER Entrepreneurship Awards in Frankfurt -Germany. 2016 - Invited as an expert mentor for the 2016 ABSA/Barclays Africa L'atelier Art Competition's top 10 finalists - a 2015 recipient of a support grant by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA). - Founder and sole sponsor of the only "FEMALE ARTIST RESIDENCY AWARD" in South Africa. Benon serves on a panel of Judges for the prestigious Cassirer Welz Award, the Joburg Fringe and the Bag Factory Selection committee. - a 2016 recipient of a 5months European-based international Artist residence award by the Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA). - a Co-sponsor of the prestigious 2015 Reinhold Cassirer Award. - He was invited on a panel of Judges for the 2015 Reinhold Cassirer Award. - he was named the 2015 "Bright Young Thing"​ by Art Africa magazine in South African Visual arts . Between (2011 - 2015), the retail price value of his work grew from a mere US$200.00 for his biggest artwork (130cm x 150cm) in 2011 to a record US$12,000.00 in 2014. He's a past winner of the Lovell Tranyr Art Trophy -2012, the Ithuba Arts Fund Grant -2011, the Bag Factory artist residence award -2011 and Finalist of the BBC MyWorld documentary global competition, London 2010.

Education:

• B.Vocational Studies in Art and Design with Education - Kyambogo University (Kampala, Uganda)

Exhibitions:

Solo Shows;

• August 27th/ 2015 - "REVEAL", Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria.
• Dec 2014 - 'Portrait of Self', World Art Gallery, Cape Town.
• 2013 - ‘Transgression’ ArtSpace gallery, Johannesburg
• 2013 - ‘Trails of infinite search’ The Lovell Gallery, Cape Town.
• 2012- ‘Beyond the Subject’ ROOM gallery, Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

GROUP SHOWS;

• 2017 - 1:54 Contemporary African Art, New York
• 2016 - "Affinity -A two man show with Justing Dingwall", Lizamore & Associates gallery, Johannesburg
• 2016 - "Charting", Ecclectica Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa.
• 2016 - Johannesburg Art Fair, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg (MK & Artist Print Studio)
• 2015 - Johannesburg Art Fair, Sandton Convention Centre - Johannesburg (Bag Factory Artists Studios)
• 2015 - THAT ART FAIR, Cape Town- South Africa (Art Africa Magazine)
• 2015 - Turbine Art Fair, Newtown-Johannesburg (Lizamore & Associates gallery)
• 2014 - 'Marking the Map' Lizamore and Associates gallery, Johannesburg
• 2014 - FNB Johannesburg Art Fair', Sandton - Johannesburg
• 2013- Turbine Art Fair, Newtown, Johannesburg.
• 2013 - Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.
• 2012 - ‘New Voices’ Art Space, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• 2013 - ‘FNB Joburg Art Fair’, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
• 2012 - ‘Images of Women: Seeing, Challenging, Empowering’ at Upstairs@Bamboo- Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• 2012 - ‘21st retrospective exhibition’, bag factory artists’ Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa
• 2012 - Dis/Play project show, Germany Geothe Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• 2012 - Lovell Gallery Art Competition winners group show, Cape Town, South Africa.
• 2012 - ‘MADE IN AFRICA: Towards Cultural Liberation exhibition’, Sandton Art Gallery Johannesburg, South Africa.
• 2012 - ‘Sanaa Africa Cultural Festival Celebrations', Shine Studios, Braamfontein Johannesburg,South Africa.
• 2012 - ‘Thupelo Open Day exhibition’, Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, Johannesburg.
• 2011 - 'The city of Johannesburg, stories that exist within it, and the rhythm of its many moving parts', Lister building, Johannesburg.
• 2011- 'ZOO CITY' Constitutional Hill,Johannesburg, South Africa.
• 2011 - 'The Art of Assemblage Exhibition', Joburg Fringe, Bramfontein Johannesburg.
• 2011 - ‘Visiting Artists’ Show’, Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, Johannesburg.
• 2010 - 'Independence is Empowerment', Makerere University gallery.
• 2010 - 'Bayimba International Festival of the Arts', Uganda National Theatre, Kampala.
• 2009 - 'Reborn, Rebirth, Nativity' - Makerere University Art gallery.