Florence Nanteza

Florence Nanteza was born in Masaka. Being the last born among her siblings, Florence Nanteza has always faced the challenge of low self-esteem and as a child she sought refuge in drawing through which she expressed her feelings about what went on in her surroundings. She comes from a creative family where her closure to her father and his affinity for art has always motivated her to keep going. After finishing high school, she discovered art as a great form of self-expression and it’s since then that she launched herself into full blown practice. Her banana fiber collages went on to gain recognition among expatriates and tourists in Masaka area. Later in 2020 she joined the Masaka based “Ndege Ya Akili”, a creative incubator that aims at honing skills of young Ugandan artists. Within a short period of time this space has given her the platform, freedom, and confidence to explore new avenues for self-expression and creativity. Nanteza has a strong affinity for wellness and herbal medication and believes that plants play a vital role in our daily livelihoods where the bloom season encourages to think positively about life. This mindset led her to partly work with a renowned local traditional medicine clinic in Masaka where she gained an incredible amount of experience and knowledge in the field of herbal medicine. Today her artwork is a manifestation of childhood memories and dreams that she has continually fused with her knowledge of herbal medication that naturally heals the body and soul. This approach has influenced the materiality and technicality of her experiments with collages and flowery objects that can be witnessed in all her artwork. Nanteza’s subliminal paintings invite the viewer to remember with her, their own memories and to relive their own dreams through healing.