Art Hedge

Adrian Migadde

I am Migadde Adrian, a consciously living artist rooted in a deep reverence for nature and the unseen energies that surround me. My work is guided by an awareness that everything is in constant motion—vibrating, communicating, resonating. I feel this energy not through sight, sound, or touch, but through intuition—a gut sense that nature is always speaking, even in silence. Water is constantly teaching me more about this invisible world. As beings composed mostly of water—like plants or like myself —I am attuned by these frequencies that surround me. Some plants, holding up to 95% water, act as amplifiers of these subtle vibrations, heightening my sensitivity, healing me and equipping me with more awareness. Through them, I connect more deeply to the different invisible patterns of life, memory, and protection that shape my artistic expression as a being. 

Adrian Migadde is a Ugandan artist whose work bridges the gap between local cultural traditions and contemporary global influences. His childhood, shaped by frugality and the challenges of growing up in a modest setting, deeply informs his artistic approach. Raised in a small room, Migadde’s current body of work contrasts this humble beginning with grand canvases and rich golden backgrounds, often adorned with imagery of vintage cars and stylish figures. These elements are inspired by his grandfather’s lavish lifestyle, which has had a lasting influence on his themes of cultural preservation and the intersection of tradition and modernity.

Migadde’s innovative technique combines paper collages with traditional painting, incorporating cutouts from international fashion magazines alongside personal family memorabilia. This layering not only speaks to the themes of recycling and cultural memory but also challenges contemporary notions of what art can be. Through this, he explores complex subjects like spirituality, identity, and societal contradictions. One notable example is his "Blues Series," in which authority figures and abstract forms create dynamic and thought-provoking interactions.

While Migadde is gaining recognition within Uganda’s art scene, including a notable presence at the Kampala Art Biennale and a connection to the Arak Collection—which celebrates contemporary Ugandan art—his international profile remains in the early stages. His trajectory is still developing compared to established figures like Francis Nnaggenda, George Kyeyune, and Rose Kirumira, whose international acclaim has solidified their positions in major exhibitions and collections.

Despite being an emerging artist, Migadde’s work resonates with collectors and critics alike, particularly for its exploration of African identity, spirituality, and the preservation of culture through both painting and sculpture. As his profile continues to grow, Migadde remains a significant figure in Uganda’s evolving art scene, with immense potential for future international recognition.

 Adrian Migadde

Born: 1989, Kampala, Uganda
Education: B.A. in Industrial Fine Art, Uganda Christian University Mukono (2013)

Adrian Migadde is a Kampala-born contemporary artist whose work bridges personal memory, cultural heritage, and spiritual intuition. Raised in an urban environment marked by solitude, Migadde developed a visual language rooted in introspection and enriched by the resilience of his maternal lineage and the traditions of the Bagunaga culture.

After completing his fine art degree, Migadde worked as a gallerist at Afriart Gallery (2013–2017), gaining firsthand experience in shaping contemporary African art discourse. His own practice—spanning sculpture, textile work, and painting—emerged during this time as a meditation on mental health, African identity, and the postcolonial psyche. Through collage, portraiture, and tactile materials, Migadde addresses dualities of light/dark, chaos/calm, and presence/absence, often informed by his family’s intimate encounters with mental illness.

His works pulse with sensory awareness, infusing intuitive gestures with environmental vibrations. This exhibition presents Migadde’s exploration of authenticity, memory, and the unseen forces that bind individuals to place. By amplifying African cultural perspectives while confronting stereotypes around mental wellness, his art opens a dialogue between personal experience and collective history.

Selected Exhibitions

• Surface Group Exhibition, Kampala (2017)

• Colour Group Exhibition, Torino, Italy

• Kampala Biennale (2018)