Agness Yombwe

Agness Buya Yombwe is an award-winning mixed media artist, arts educator,
author and mentor. She is widely recognized in Zambia for her many leadership roles and her advocacy and training efforts on behalf of an entire generation of women artists. Her work has been exhibited widely throughout Zambia, and in solo and group exhibitions in Europe, Asia and the United States. Following her arts education in Zambia, Agness attended Wimbledon School of Arts, London. Agness has received numerous prestigious awards and honors, and has participated in invitational residencies at the Edvard Munch Studio in Oslo, Norway, and the McColl Centre for Visual Arts, North Carolina (USA). In December 2020, she was recently chosen to be an artist-in-residence at the World Bank, Washington, D.C., and was showcased by the World Bank Art Program in December 2020 in an online exhibition. She currently has two publications: Kudumbisiana (Dialogue), 2015; and Ni Mzilo (It is Taboo), 2019. 

“My artistic practice explores indigenous knowledge systems and especially the Mbusa of Zambia’s Bemba people. I’ve also examined other societies and their response to environmental and socio-political issues facing contemporary society. Through art, symbolism and text, I’ve explored and challenged responses to traditional and changing cultural norms. My intent is to provoke questions, and to encourage people to engage with stereotypes and norms”