KIZITO NKUNDAMAHORO found his niche in drawing by using pastel pencils and mixing graphite with pens to make paintings.

The 21-year-old visual artist started drawing when he was very young, but transitioned to doing so professionally in 2019 when he graduated from high school.

"I was born to be an artist. To become a visual artist was like fate to me. I didn’t discover my talent, it discovered me because I don’t remember myself not drawing,” he said.

"Even when I was still young,” he continued, "my toys were crayons and papers.”

Kizito Nkundamahoro 

Speaking about what motivated him to keep drawing, he said that it was because he wanted to use his talent to achieve something big, adding that he loves visual art because it makes him who he is and that through his artworks, he can motivate different people.

Nkundamahoro is a self-taught artist who has strengthened his drawing skills through watching different Youtube tutorials.

He said that visual art has helped him to open up to the world, unlocked more doors for him where he couldn’t imagine reaching as well as helped him financially.

Some of Nkundamahoro’s popular artworks are the painting of H.E Paul Kagame carrying his granddaughter, painting of Bruce Melodie, Kate Bashabe, as well as one named "Ihorere” which was iwas showcased at the Rwanda Art Museum.

He sees the visual art industry growing tremendously in Rwanda compared to where it was 10 years ago, adding that a lot of people are knowing it much better and enjoying it though a lot of work still needs to be done.

His challenges include less investment in terms of the materials he uses to craft his artworks as some are not even available in Rwanda, and that some people still don’t understand how significant visual art is.

Nkundamahoro "long-plans” are to own a studio which will help him concentrate more on his art as well as an art gallery which will ease and boost his connection to more clients.

For more information, he can be found on WhatApp+250788456490,

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