Douglas Mutebi

Douglas Mutebi, born in 2002 in Kampala (Uganda), is a self-taught visual artist whose journey began in April 2018 with a simple moment of inspiration. At 16, finding himself with time on his hands and searching for direction, Douglas discovered his calling through a friend's drawings. What started as curiosity quickly blossomed into passion, and art became his chosen path forward.

Working exclusively with ballpoint pen, Douglas has developed a distinctive approach to portraiture that captures the essence of his subjects. For Douglas, art serves as both sanctuary and voice. "Art allows me to speak to the world without saying any words," he explains. His work provides refuge from life's darker moments while offering a means to process stress and navigate personal struggles. In his own words, "Art saves me."

Currently, Douglas focuses his work on telling stories about himself and the people around him – family, friends, and community members. His portraits reveal the beauty of human emotions, capturing thoughts, memories, feelings, and struggles within each carefully rendered face drawn on paper. Yet his artistic vision extends beyond his immediate circle. Douglas aims to expand his storytelling to include voices from outside his community, sitting with strangers to understand their experiences and translate their narratives into visual form. He also wants to grow and evolve as an artist, continuously learning new skills and exploring different mediums like oil paint.

Douglas's talent has already gained international recognition. In 2025, his work "The Villager 1" was featured in the prestigious MODPORTRAIT competition organized by Artelibre in Spain. The piece was exhibited at the Real Círculo Artístico de Barcelona (March 28 - April 21) and later at the Auditorium of Arroyomolinos in Madrid (May 5 - 31). Though he didn't win the competition, Douglas achieved something equally meaningful – his artwork found its collector there, marking a significant milestone in his artistic journey.