Pamina Sebastião

"Pamina is much more than a name, she is a transformative force who challenges the norm and questions the coloniality of power with her dream of being an aunt to her community. The shortcomings of her childhood, combined with her academic and art activist experience, led her to the need to embody a place of refuge for those who need to be welcomed, listened to and guided."

MEET

Pamina Sebastião

Pamina Sebastião, a multidisciplinary artist born in Luanda, Angola in 1988, is a vital voice in contemporary artistic expression. Her work, currently on display at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art in Cape Town, is a powerful testimony to her intricate exploration of the coloniality of power, social justice and sexuality through her activist art.

With an academic background in International Law and International Relations, Pamina brings a unique perspective to her artistic practice, deeply rooted in human rights issues. As an activist, she has co-founded and participated in various initiatives in favour of LGBTQ+ rights, feminism and art.

Her series of projects, such as "Only Beautiful," demonstrate her ability to criticise and reconstruct dominant social narratives. By focusing on the body as the centre of her investigation, Pamina challenges capitalist cishetero-patriarchal power structures and proposes new imaginaries of existence. These projects are a skilful mix of writings, photo essays, collages, videos and other forms of expression, all designed to provoke reflection and change.

Recognition of her work is not limited to the art world; Pamina was awarded the Seed Prize at the Prince Claus Awards in the Netherlands in 2022, as well as receiving an award from the Iris Association for her long-standing contribution to the LGBTQ+ community in Angola.

Her influence transcends borders, with exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Lubumbashi Biennale, Museo Madre and the Sex & Public Conference, among others. Her commitment to social justice and artistic exploration positions her as a key figure in the contemporary African art scene, challenging and inspiring audiences around the world.

2023
Seekers, Seers, Soothsayers ,Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art ,Cape Town, South Africa;

Think Tank: Reproductive Agents ,Madre, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina ,Naples, Italy;

Sem Sombras/Unshadowed ,apexart ,Soho, New York, USA.

2021
Queer To The Bank ,Galleria Fonti ,Naples, Italy;

Não Há Cura ,Mov’Art Gallery ,Luanda, Angola.

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