Izere Antoine: Portraits
The Baram House presents the intimate portraits of Izere Antoine, a Rwandan impasto painter.
Welcome to the Baram House, Mr. Antoine! Please give our readers a short introduction.
My name is Izere Antoine de Padoue, a Rwandan artist based in Izihirwe Art Studio in Kigali, Rwanda.
On Ally (2020):
“There are those people who you like, and deep down you’re so in love, but you can’t say it. It doesn’t mean that you don’t think or care about them. It’s a deep connection.”
Ally (2020)
35” x 31”
Acrylic on Canvas
Crown (2019)
39” x 39”
Acrylic on Canvas
On Crown (2019):
“She wears the crown not for the townspeople, not for her husband. She wears the crown just to remind her of the dreams she was once too scared to dream of.”
Tell us a little bit about your artistic journey. What inspired you to start painting and what factors played in continuing your craft until now?
I have loved to draw since I was young, and after ordinary schools, I went to Nyundo Art School in Rwanda where I started the journey in arts through sculpture courses. After three years, I went out of school and started practicing painting in 2018, which became my everyday involvement, job, and career.
On Lofty Dreams (2019):
“Feelings of being proud of what you’re doing—of the progress—not because it’s great, but because you’re working hard for your dreams that are coming true.”
Lofty Dreams (2019)
39” x 35”
Acrylic on Canvas
Warm Honey (2020)
39” x 35”
Acrylic on Canvas
Is there a particular reason why you prefer impasto over blending?
God! I’m very happy that you know that it’s impasto. I love it so much. When I was having art courses, I practiced and grew to like painting impressions (which is called Impressionism). I always dream of making my paintings seem like sculptures, but I still don’t get it just right. I can say I like the feel of texture in 3D—I like my works not only painted, but also kind of sculpted.
On Warm Honey (2020):
“Beauty, sweetness, warmth, calmness, love, and happiness. Be the reason that people feel safe and loved. There is always something you can do. You have to understand the reason that you’re here and why you're with everyone around you. You can give life.”
Feeling Good (2019)
31” x 31”
Acrylic on Canvas
On Feeling Good (2019):
“One more in the series of five feel-good paintings. Reflecting on thoughts, feelings, dreams, happiness, and everything that happens to us in life. We always have to fight so that our lives stay in control. Here, I was trying to find and adjust those images that are full of different feelings to show the way we need to relax and help our mind have something to feel but in a positive way.”
We’re curious about the artistic community in Rwanda.
Good question. In Rwanda, it is like a group of people or a society united by something spiritual, because artists and their clients are like brothers and sisters. People are also trying to figure out what art is—it’s not like before.
On How It Feels (2019):
“There are always the choices that other people in society want us to follow, maybe because they don't believe in what you believe or they don't like what you're doing at the moment. Following your heart, and believing in yourself is the only way to be you, because you'll always be you no matter what.”
How It Feels (2019)
31” x 47”
Acrylic on Canvas
Where do you hope to take your art from here?
It’s like having a baby plant and trying everything you can do to make it grow healthy. It will do its own thing!
On Long Suit (2019):
“Memories of every moment affect our living, as does love. Love, love, love, and trust. Make real promises because it hurts when someone finds out your lies.”
Long Suit (2019)
31” x 35”
Acrylic on Canvas
Izere Antoine was born in The Democratic Republic of the Congo and raised in Northern Rwanda. He was trained in sculpture and ceramics from the Nyundo School of Art, where his artistic journey began with the help of his teachers and the team at Ganza Arts, a cultural training hub. He has exhibited in various cities across Rwanda and Kenya. Today, he is a full-time painter and illustrator at Izihirwe Arts. Follow him on Instagram (@izerechezz).