Republic of the Congo

PENIEL JOSHE Also known as Mukulo Onesto Age 56

BRAZZAVILLE · REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Peniel Joshe, also known as Mukulo Onesto, is an artist from Congo whose paintings bring together vivid color, expressive figures and unexpected forms. His work has an immediately recognizable presence, with exaggerated features and unconventional proportions that draw the viewer into a world shaped by imagination. Joshe’s creativity moves between the world around him and the unexpected images that come to him in dreams. Everyday experiences become starting points for imaginative expression. Having learned through parents and grandparents, he carries that family knowledge into a personal approach to painting. Large eyes, emphatic gestures and bodies that bend beyond natural proportions give his compositions a restless energy. Bright backgrounds intensify the figures, while layered brushwork and flowing lines add movement. His imagery can feel playful, startling and mysterious at once, leaving its meaning open to the viewer. Joshe’s paintings invite close attention. Their visual impact is immediate, yet their unusual details encourage viewers to linger, discovering new relationships between shapes, expressions and gestures. Through NUA-ARTE, his work introduces audiences to a distinctive artistic voice and an inventive approach to the human figure. Working across painting, sculpture and mixed media, PENIEL's practice is a cornerstone of NUA-ARTE's programme for Republic of the Congo.