Theresa Musoke Ugandan, b. 1944

  • Lives and works in Kampala
    Theresa Musoke in her studio
    Theresa Musoke in her studio in Kampala

    Theresa Musoke is a formally experimental semi-abstract painter who has been celebrated for her expressive portrayals of wildlife. Using a range of mediums and techniques to develop her imagery, Musoke allows the suggestive nature of dyed canvas to guide her painting into evocative forms of animals and landscapes. Over her career she has developed a distinctive visual language blending astute, sensitive draughtsmanship with painterly experimentation. 

     

    Musoke was the first female artist to obtain a degree from the Margaret Trowell School of Fine Arts at Makerere University in 1963. She went on to win the painting prize in 1965 and obtained a scholarship to study for a postgraduate diploma in Printmaking at the Royal College of Art in London in 1965. She later won a scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation to continue her studies at the University of Pennsylvania. On her return to Kampala, Musoke taught at Makerere University before relocating to Nairobi in 1976. 

     

    Musoke has been a highly influential figure in Kenyan and Ugandan art, not only for her celebrated visual practice but also as a distinguished educator. She lived in Kenya for over twenty years, teaching at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. Throughout this time, Musoke exhibited frequently in local galleries such as Paa Ya Paa, Gallery Watatu and the African Heritage House. Her selected solo and group exhibitions include a solo show at the Uganda Museum, 1965; Sanaa: Contemporary Art from East Africa, Commonwealth Institute, London, 1984; Pioneer Women of the Arts, Nairobi Gallery, 2018; A Retrospective of Three Artists: Theresa Musoke, Tabatha wa Thuku, Yony Waite, Circle Art Gallery, 2022. Her work featured in the travelling group show Mwili akili Na Roho, at the Royal Academy, London and Haus Der Kunst, Munich. 

  • Works
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Antelopes in green and brown), Undated
      Untitled (Antelopes in green and brown), Undated
    • Theresa Musoke, Giraffes Drinking, circa 2020s
      Giraffes Drinking, circa 2020s
    • Theresa Musoke, Embrace, circa 2000s
      Embrace, circa 2000s
    • Theresa Musoke, Pelicans ll, circa 2000s
      Pelicans ll, circa 2000s
    • Theresa Musoke, Forest in green, circa 2000s
      Forest in green, circa 2000s
    • Theresa Musoke, Wild Dogs Hunting, circa 1996-97
      Wild Dogs Hunting, circa 1996-97
    • Theresa Musoke, Ostriches lll, circa 1990s
      Ostriches lll, circa 1990s
    • Theresa Musoke, Marabou Storks l, circa 1990s
      Marabou Storks l, circa 1990s
    • Theresa Musoke, Pelicans lll (in blue), circa 1990s
      Pelicans lll (in blue), circa 1990s
    • Theresa Musoke, Wild Dog With Antelope, circa 1986-87
      Wild Dog With Antelope, circa 1986-87
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled I (Antelopes in brown and yellow), circa 1985-87
      Untitled I (Antelopes in brown and yellow), circa 1985-87
    • Theresa Musoke, Woman Seated in Blue, circa 1980s
      Woman Seated in Blue, circa 1980s
    • Theresa Musoke, Fleeing Antelopes, circa 1980s
      Fleeing Antelopes, circa 1980s
    • Theresa Musoke, Marabou Storks ll, circa 1980s
      Marabou Storks ll, circa 1980s
    • Theresa Musoke, Self Portrait (four faces), circa 1980s
      Self Portrait (four faces), circa 1980s
    • Theresa Musoke, Eland, circa 1970s
      Eland, circa 1970s
    • Theresa Musoke, Impala Herd III, circa 1970s
      Impala Herd III, circa 1970s
    • Theresa Musoke, Impala (13), circa 1970s
      Impala (13), circa 1970s
    • Theresa Musoke, Grant Gazelles, circa 1970s
      Grant Gazelles, circa 1970s
    • Theresa Musoke, Kudu, circa 1970s
      Kudu, circa 1970s
    • Theresa Musoke, Murchison Falls, circa 1963-65
      Murchison Falls, circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Crowned Cranes , circa 1963-65
      Crowned Cranes , circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Forest Scene, circa 1963-65
      Forest Scene, circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Monkey in space, circa 1963-65
      Monkey in space, circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Frog, circa 1963-65
      Frog, circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Butterfly, circa 1963-65
      Butterfly, circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (abstract), circa 1963-65
      Untitled (abstract), circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Butterfly, circa 1963-65
      Butterfly, circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Ghosts, circa 1963-65
      Ghosts, circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Landscape , circa 1963-65
      Landscape , circa 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Standing Figure), circa 1960s
      Untitled (Standing Figure), circa 1960s
    • Theresa Musoke, Elephants, circa 1960s
      Elephants, circa 1960s
    • Theresa Musoke, Dream Land, circa 1960s
      Dream Land, circa 1960s
    • Theresa Musoke, Nest, circa 1960s
      Nest, circa 1960s
    • Theresa Musoke, Mountain Goats, circa 1960s
      Mountain Goats, circa 1960s
    • Theresa Musoke, Reeds on Lake Victoria, 2025
      Reeds on Lake Victoria, 2025
    • Theresa Musoke, Zebras in blue, 2025
      Zebras in blue, 2025
    • Theresa Musoke, Journey, 2025
      Journey, 2025
    • Theresa Musoke, Fusion, 2025
      Fusion, 2025
    • Theresa Musoke, Wild Dogs III (Brown), 2021
      Wild Dogs III (Brown), 2021
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled, (blue and red), 2021
      Untitled, (blue and red), 2021
    • Theresa Musoke, Evening Shades , 2020's
      Evening Shades , 2020's
    • Theresa Musoke, Ostriches II (Yellow and black), 2012
      Ostriches II (Yellow and black), 2012
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled XI (Wildebeest), 2010
      Untitled XI (Wildebeest), 2010
    • Theresa Musoke, Horns, 2010
      Horns, 2010
    • Theresa Musoke, Wild Dogs on a Hill, 2005
      Wild Dogs on a Hill, 2005
    • Theresa Musoke, Wild Dogs with a Kill, 2005
      Wild Dogs with a Kill, 2005
    • Theresa Musoke, Wildebeest (yellow background), 2003
      Wildebeest (yellow background), 2003
    • Theresa Musoke, Dancers in blue (216), 2000s
      Dancers in blue (216), 2000s
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled II (Antelope in dark red)), 1999-2001
      Untitled II (Antelope in dark red)), 1999-2001
    • Theresa Musoke, Pelicans l, 1999
      Pelicans l, 1999
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (51) - , 1996
      Untitled (51) - , 1996
    • Theresa Musoke, Tenderness, 1996
      Tenderness, 1996
    • Theresa Musoke, Single Stork, 1995
      Single Stork, 1995
    • Theresa Musoke, Wildebeest (in blue and black), 1992
      Wildebeest (in blue and black), 1992
    • Theresa Musoke, Wildebeest in green and yellow, 1990s
      Wildebeest in green and yellow, 1990s
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled lV (Ostriches in brown), 1990s
      Untitled lV (Ostriches in brown), 1990s
    • Theresa Musoke, Fountain, 1990s
      Fountain, 1990s
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Giraffe), 1990
      Untitled (Giraffe), 1990
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Generuk), 1980s
      Untitled (Generuk), 1980s
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Ostriches), 1980s
      Untitled (Ostriches), 1980s
    • Theresa Musoke, Fusion, 1980s
      Fusion, 1980s
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Running Antelopes), 1975
      Untitled (Running Antelopes), 1975
    • Theresa Musoke, Small Red Antelopes, 1970s
      Small Red Antelopes, 1970s
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Gazelle xx), 1970
      Untitled (Gazelle xx), 1970
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Woman reclining), 1969
      Untitled (Woman reclining), 1969
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Two women), 1967-69
      Untitled (Two women), 1967-69
    • Theresa Musoke, Dancing figure with Pot, 1963-65
      Dancing figure with Pot, 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Sunrise, 1963-65
      Sunrise, 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Nativity, 1963-65
      Nativity, 1963-65
    • Theresa Musoke, Family Group, 1960s
      Family Group, 1960s
    • Theresa Musoke, Wild Dogs I (Yellow), circa 1990s
      Wild Dogs I (Yellow), circa 1990s
    • Theresa Musoke, Title to come
      Title to come
    • Theresa Musoke, Joy
      Joy
    • Theresa Musoke, Cheetahs on the move, circa 1990s
      Cheetahs on the move, circa 1990s
    • Theresa Musoke, Migrating Wildebeest, 2021
      Migrating Wildebeest, 2021
    • Theresa Musoke, Gerenuk I (Blue), 2021
      Gerenuk I (Blue), 2021
    • Theresa Musoke, Gerenuk II (Umber), 2021
      Gerenuk II (Umber), 2021
    • Theresa Musoke, Gerenuk III (Yellow), 2021
      Gerenuk III (Yellow), 2021
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled IV (Cave Painting in Brown), 2001
      Untitled IV (Cave Painting in Brown), 2001
    • Theresa Musoke, Giraffe Group, 2000
      Giraffe Group, 2000
    • Theresa Musoke, Muganda Girl, 1980's
      Muganda Girl, 1980's
    • Theresa Musoke, Cheetah, 1975 (reworked later)
      Cheetah, 1975 (reworked later)
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Antelopes in blue and brown), Undated
    • Theresa Musoke, Impala in green, 2025
    • Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Topi), 1999
    • Theresa Musoke, Self Portrait I, 1998
    • Theresa Musoke, Rainbow Wild Dogs, 1998
    • Theresa Musoke, Giraffe in browns, 1980s
  • Exhibitions
  • Art fairs