Kampala · Juba Est. 2017 Artist & Speaker

Hands that draw,
voices that carry.

I'm Taban Peter Pal — a Ugandan-based artist and public speaker. I work in graphite, charcoal and acrylic, and I speak about the craft of attention to rooms full of young creatives across East Africa.

Portrait of Taban Peter Pal
Kampala · 2026
In the studio today
01 · About

Just trust the line.

A short biography, written plainly. Replace with real copy — this is a template.

09
Years practicing
Drawing seriously since 2017, full-time since 2020.
140+
Pieces sold
Private collectors across Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan.
32
Stages spoken
Universities, festivals, and creative conferences.
04
Solo exhibitions
Including the 2024 "Quiet Hands" show in Kampala.

Taban grew up drawing on the backs of schoolbooks. Today his graphite and charcoal portraits sell to private collectors across Uganda, and his commissions have been called some of the most considered work coming out of East Africa this decade.

Alongside the studio practice he speaks publicly about the discipline of making — how to see, how to stay with something difficult, how to build a life around craft when nobody is watching.

02 · Practice

What I make, how I work.

Four threads that run through everything — whether on paper, on canvas, or on stage.

01
Graphite portraiture
Commission-led, 40–60 hour pieces. Large format, archival paper, fine detail.
02
Charcoal studies
Looser, faster work. Sold in editioned small batches from the studio.
03
Public speaking
Keynotes and fireside talks on craft, attention, and creative discipline.
04
Studio workshops
Small-group weekends teaching observational drawing to working adults.
03 · Experience

A decade in rooms.

Selected shows, residencies and speaking engagements. Download CV →

2024 — Now
Solo show · "Quiet Hands"
Afriart Gallery, Kampala
A series of twelve graphite portraits of South Sudanese elders living in Kampala.
2023
Keynote · The discipline of looking
Makerere Creatives Summit
Opening keynote on attention, slow work, and building a practice in public.
2022
Artist in residence
32° East | Ugandan Arts Trust
Six-month residency producing the charcoal series that became Threshold.
2020 — 22
Independent studio practice
Kampala, Uganda
Full-time portrait commissions; first private collectors outside Uganda.
2017 — 20
BA Fine Art (honours)
Margaret Trowell School, MUK
First-class honours, drawing concentration. Studio monitor, years 2 and 3.
04 · Featured works

Selected pieces.

Four works from the last two years. These are placeholder compositions — swap in photographs of the originals when ready.

05 · Words

What people say.

From collectors, hosts, and the occasional journalist.

"
Taban draws the way a good listener listens — he lets the face arrive rather than chasing it. The portrait he made of my mother is the most honest thing we own.
M
Mariam Aciro
Collector · Nakasero
"
He opened our summit with twenty minutes on paying attention, and the room was silent for an hour afterwards. We'll book him every year we can.
J
Joshua Ssebunya
Director · MCS '23
"
Among the most considered graphite work coming out of East Africa right now — unhurried, generous, technically serious.
E
Esther Kigozi
The Kampala Review
06 · Featured in & with

Shown alongside.

Galleries, publications and festivals that have hosted the work.

Afriart Gallery
32° East
The Kampala Review
Bayimba Festival
Makerere MTSIFA
Design Hub KLA
07 · Contact

Let's talk — commissions, talks, studio visits.

I reply to every enquiry myself, usually within 48 hours. Commissions book roughly three months ahead.

Studio
Plot 14, Bukoto — by appointment
Email
hello@tabanpeterpal.com
Phone
+256 7XX XXX XXX
Elsewhere
Instagram · X · Behance
Send a note
Tweaks 55°