Located in the heart of Kampala, Uganda’s capital, Brian Kansiime Lister has emerged as one of East Africa’s most exciting painters. Drawing inspiration from his close-knit family, community, current events, and history, Lister weaves these influences into a distinctive series of paintings that reflect his unique artistic voice. Titled The Timeless Series, this body of work debuted in 2023 and reclaims and reimagines the portrayal of Black women throughout history, breaking free from the constraints of the past. As he prepares to unveil his second solo exhibition from the series, we spoke with him about Resonance of Eras, his upcoming show at Mitochondria Gallery in Houston, Texas.
Image courtesy of Mitochondria Gallery
T.E: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this exhibition? What motivated you to focus on Black women’s representation from the Victorian Era to the present day?
B.K: The inspiration comes from a desire to reimagine history and give Black women a place in narratives where they were often erased. The Victorian Era represents a time when ideas of beauty and elegance were heavily shaped by colonialism, often excluding Black women. By placing them in this context, I want to show that their strength, grace, and power have always existed, even when history didn’t acknowledge it.
T.E: How do you approach the task of rewriting these narratives? Are you drawing from personal experiences, historical research, or a combination of both?
B.K: It’s a combination of both. I draw from personal experiences of growing up around strong Black women who inspired me, but I also dive into historical research. It’s important to understand how history shaped these narratives so I can reimagine them authentically. I study clothing, traditions, and the roles Black women played during these times, even if those roles weren’t always documented.
T.E: How does your exhibition aim to challenge and deconstruct traditional portrayals of Black women, especially within the context of colonialism and Victorian ideals?
B.K: It challenges those portrayals by centering Black women in spaces where they were excluded. Instead of seeing them through the lens of colonialism, I present them as timeless, powerful figures. The fabrics, poses, and expressions in the work are deliberate; they are meant to show elegance and resilience, but on their own terms, not through a colonial perspective.
T.E: Have you encountered any challenges while creating this body of work? How have you navigated these obstacles to ensure that the voices of Black women are accurately represented?
B.K: One challenge has been making sure the stories feel true to the experiences of Black women. It’s a lot of responsibility to represent something so important. I’ve worked closely with women in my life and sought feedback to ensure that the pieces reflect dignity and pride. Reimagining the past in color, where most of my references while doing research are in black and white or brown, another challenge is balancing the weight of historical injustices with the beauty and hope I want to portray. Art allows me to navigate these tensions thoughtfully.
Image courtesy of Mitochondria Gallery
T.E: How do you see the relationship between art, activism, and education in this exhibition? Is there a call to action for viewers to engage with the themes beyond just viewing the art?
B.K: Art is a powerful tool for activism and education. This exhibition invites viewers to reflect on history, but it also challenges them to see Black women as central figures in shaping culture and identity. The call to action is to recognize these stories and carry that awareness into how we understand the world today. It’s about honoring their legacy and acknowledging their continued impact.
T.E: Could you discuss how the themes of empowerment, resistance, and resilience are present in the works featured in your exhibition?
B.K: These themes are present in the way the women are portrayed in their posture, their gaze, and the details of the fabrics. The Victorian-inspired clothing represents resistance by reclaiming a time when Black women were often silenced. The richness of the textures symbolizes resilience, showing how they’ve overcome challenges and thrived. And their presence in the art is an act of empowerment, it’s a statement that they’ve always belonged in these narratives.
Image courtesy of Mitochondria Gallery
T.E: How do you balance the emotional weight of these histories with hope for the future? What messages do you want audiences to take away from this exhibition?
B.K: Balancing the weight of history with hope is at the heart of this work. I want people to see the struggles Black women have faced, but also their strength and ability to persevere. The message is that their beauty, grace, and resilience are timeless, and their stories deserve to be celebrated now and in the future. This exhibition is about honoring the past while inspiring hope and pride for generations to come.
Timi Etebu is a writer based in Houston, Texas. His interests are in amplifying the voices of artists from Africa and the African Diaspora. He is the founder of Mitochondria Gallery.
