IMIYENZI is a digital open call and upcoming group exhibition centering the voices of artists of East African heritage, both on the continent and across the diaspora. The project invites submissions of original digital artworks that explore themes of healing, resilience, and cultural memory.
The exhibition is named after Imiyenzi, the Kinyarwanda word for the Euphorbia tirucalli tree—a plant known for its strength and healing properties. Just as the tree bleeds a milky sap when cut, the exhibition asks how creative expression can channel memory, loss, survival, and transformation across generations.
Curated by Bruce Niyonkuru and Melissa Kurkut, IMIYENZI is supported by the Houston Arts Alliance (Let Creativity Happen grant) and will be hosted in September 2025 at 5301.18a Arts & Culture Lab in Houston, Texas. Jurors include curators from Milele Museum and the Houston Center for Photography.
Curators
Bruce Niyonkuru is a Rwandan interdisciplinary artist and curator whose work explores cultural memory, postcolonial narratives, and speculative futures. He is the founder of Milele Museum, a platform dedicated to reimagining African cultural heritage through digital storytelling, public art, and community-rooted education.
Melissa Kurkut is a Houston-based visual storyteller and curator. Born in the Netherlands to Rwandan and Kurdish parents, her practice centers on fragmented histories, displacement, and the politics of visibility.
Partner Institutions
- Milele Museum is an artist-led institution dedicated to preserving and reimagining African heritage through contemporary art, digital tools, and decolonial curatorial practices. Founded in Rwanda while working globally, Milele connects grassroots communities with global conversations on restitution, healing, and creative education.
- Houston Center for Photography (HCP) is a leading photography organization committed to expanding the conversation around lens-based art through exhibitions, fellowships, and public programming. HCP is committed to supporting underrepresented voices in photography.
- 5301.18a Arts & Culture Lab is a Houston-based research and cultural space that supports socially engaged art, sustainable design, and collective practices. The lab provides a platform for dialogue, experimentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) is the grantmaking and public arts agency supporting artists and creative projects in Houston. IMIYENZI is funded by the Let Creativity Happen! grant program, which supports risk-taking, community-driven artistic projects across the city.
Eligibility & Submission Info
- Open to artists of East African heritage, including those living in the diaspora
- Accepted mediums: digital photography, digital collage or illustration, audio/sound-based work, and 3D renderings
- AI-generated work will not be considered
- Artists may submit up to 5 works, but only one per artist will be selected
- Final deadline: 24 July 2025. More details and submission form available here
