Artist profile
Musonga
Mbogo
Musonga Mbogo is a visual artist raised and based on Ngunnawal and Ngambri lands, in Canberra Australia. His style often employs colourful and literary characteristics. The narratives which he presents are both shared and unique to the artist, and audiences are invited to immerse themselves in a new world, seeing themselves as characters in his stories. Each canvas is a collection of aspirations, anxieties and amalgamated cultural references – a true portrait of a young person navigating life.
Musonga has recently 50 linear metres of public artworks for the new paediatric ward as part of the recent Canberra Hospital Expansion. Over the course of his career, he has found notable collaborations having recently completed projects for the Canberra Hospital Triple J and the Ace Hotel Sydney. He has featured in publications spanning ABC, Grazia, RUSSH and Acclaim Magazine. Through his works, he tells a unique story combining his Tanzanian and Zimbabwean heritage as well as his Australian upbringing - often exploring stories of belonging and identity.
Career Highlights
- Created 50 linear metres of artwork for the newly opened paediatric ward at the Canberra Hospital
- Created the 2023 Triple J Hottest 100 Like A Version Countdown graphics
- Musonga is currently represented by two Australian galleries
Artist Interview
What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I mostly work with acrylic, spray point and oil pastels. I mostly work with them because the colours contrast really well across the mediums and they have their own unique textures.
How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?
The process of creating work is quite an intuitive one for me. I'll generally think about the scale at which I would like to work, and start with a few colours in mind. From there it's a process of layering, playing around with compositions and taking in references from my immediate surroundings. I think it's a really cool process, because the art that I share almost becomes a stamp of a moment in time.
Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?
I primarily work in the backyard of my family home, which is a very tranquil and peaceful space, especially in the warmer seasons. It's the place where I started my creative journey which makes it special. As of recent, I've also started working while I travel. Recently that was in Italy and a few hotel rooms in different countries.
