Olivier Mbabazi (b.1996) [umugezi] is a Rwandan interdisciplinary artist, activist, educator, and scholar from Kigali, currently a guest on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation, also known as Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where he is completing his master in Fine Arts while teaching visual arts. His art practice and research are primarily concerned with resilience and cross-cultural understanding.
CV
EDUCATION
Master in Fine Art, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art & French, The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
Business Marketing Management, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
SELECTED PERFORMANCES
2023 On Art and Healing Praia, Cabo Verde
2022 Art Battle at Red Room Vancouver, Canada
2022 Diwali Festival at St John’s College, UBC Vancouver, Canada
2022 Sewaneeroo Music Festival. Sewanee, TN, USA
2021 Sewaneeroo Music Festival. Sewanee, TN, USA
2020 Burying a Piano. Performance with Greg Pond. Stove Works. Chattanooga, TN, USA
2017 Competition de la Francophonie. Nyundo, Rwanda
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022: Runonko. Ed Carlos Art Gallery. Sewanee, TN, USA
2019: Sewanee Through Artist’s Lens. Jesse Ball Dupont Library. Sewanee, TN, USA
2018: Landscapes. Jesse Ball Dupont Library. Sewanee, TN, USA
ART FAIRS
2017: Christmas Bazaar. United States Embassy. Kigali, Rwanda
2016: Christmas Bazaar, United States Embassy. Kigali Rwanda
2015: Kwita Izina Art Collective. Musanze, Rwanda
2014: Expo 2014. Gikondo Expo Ground. Kigali, Rwanda
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022: Anamnesis. University Art Gallery. Sewanee, TN, USA
2021: The Passion of the Christ. All Saints Chapel. Sewanee, TN, USA
2020: Untitled. Artisan Depot. Cowan, TN, USA
2016: Untitled Exhibition. Hotel Ibis. Huye, Rwanda
2015: My Democracy Art Exhibition. United States Ambassador’s Residence. Kigali, Rwanda
2014: Jua Kali Exhibition. Gikondo Expo Ground. Kigali, Rwanda
2014: Imago Mundi Collective Exhibition. Masaka. Kigali, Rwanda
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2024: International Award. University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada
2024: Graduate Support Initiative Scholarship. UBC Vancouver, Canada
2022: Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. The Watson Foundation New York, USA
2022: Membership in St John’s college at UBC Vancouver, Canada
2022: International Award. University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada
2022: Graduate Support Initiative Scholarship. UBC Vancouver, Canada
2021: Beckeen Scholarship. The Babson Center for Global Commerce Sewanee, TN, USA
2021: Summer Research Fellowship. The University of the South Sewanee, TN, USA
2020: Winter Research Fellowship. The University of the South Sewanee, TN, USA
2020: Inducted in the Order of the Gown. The University of the South Sewanee, TN, USA
2019: Summer Research Fellowship. The University of the South Sewanee, TN, USA
2018: International Merit Scholarship. The University of the South Sewanee, TN, USA
2016: National Music Scholarship. Workforce Development Authority Kigali, Rwanda
2014: Certified with Honors. Kunst Gymnasium. Alzey, Germany
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023: Art and Resilience Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Nepal, Jordan, Senegal, Seychelles
2022: Art Teaching Assistant, The University of British Columbia. Vancouver, Canada
2022: Photographer & Videographer, Veranda at Sewanee. Sewanee, TN, USA
2022: Digital Documentarist, 213-A Leaders Program Pilgrimage. Washington DC, USA
2021: Art facilitator, The Global Home, The University of the South. Sewanee, TN, USA
2021: Art facilitator, The Sewanee Interfaith Advisory Board. Sewanee, TN, USA
2020: Art facilitator, The Office of Global Citizenship. Sewanee, TN, USA
INTERNSHIPS
2021: Codirector. Bonner’s Business Development and Marketing Team Sewanee, TN, USA
2021: Marketing Intern. Friends of Canon Gideon Foundation Sewanee, TN, USA
2021: Advertising Intern, Farmers Insurance Monteagle, TN, USA
2021: Studio Assistant, University of the South Sewanee, TN, USA
2020: Summer Research Fellow, University of the South Sewanee, TN, USA
2019: Staff Photographer, Sewanee Purple, University of the South Sewanee, TN, USA
2019: Summer Research Fellow, BAG Innovation Kigali, Rwanda
2018: Product Developer Intern, Manumetal Ltd Kigali, Rwanda
2016: Cofounder & Vice President, Iwacu Art Center Kigali, Rwanda
2015: Cofounder & Vice president, Umurunga Arts Ltd Rubavu, Rwanda
PRESS
Fellow Travelers. https://stories.sewanee.edu/fellow-travelers/
Runonko, A Solo Exhibition by Olivier I. Mbabazi C’22. https://new.sewanee.edu/arts-across-campus/events/runonko-a-solo-exhibition-by-olivier-i-mbabazi-c22/
Two Members of the Class of 2022 Awarded Watson Fellowships. The University of the South. https://new.sewanee.edu/news/two-members-of-the-class-of-2022-awarded-watson-fellowships/
Artist of the Week. https://thesewaneepurple.org/2022/02/18/artist-of-the-week-olivier-mbabazi-c22/
Sustain Sewanee. “Environmental Art” https://new.sewanee.edu/files/resources/sustain-sewanee-newsletter-101320.pdf