Born in Uganda, Benon Lutaaya is a Johannesburg-based visual artist. He holds a BFA with Education from Kyambogo University, Kampala. Although known for his contemporary paper collage portraiture work, he’s equally adept dealing with other subjects and mediums.
Unable to afford proper art supplies when he started out professionally in 2010, Benon improvised with recycled, found paper material gathered from streets to pursue his purpose as an artist.
2011 – Moves to South Africa courtesy of an international artist residency award by the Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, Johannesburg where he still holds a studio. Within 4 years of full time professional practice, Benon’s career is making waves punctuated with sale-out shows, artistic recognition, and a clients waiting list spanning for years.
The “Face of African Youth Foundation 2015” at the ADLER Entrepreneurship Awards in Frankfurt -Germany, Benon is also a finalist nominee for South Africa’s Arts and Culture Trust Young Impact Awards 2015 – winners to be announced on 2nd/November.
2016 recipient of the European-based international Artist residency award by the Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA)
2015 recipient of a support grant by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)
Co-sponsor of the prestigious -‘2015 Reinhold Cassirer Award’ that supports talented young South African visual artists. As well as an annual contributor to Ithuba Arts Fund that supports emerging artists in Johannesburg.
2015 – invited on a panel of Judges for the ‘Reinhold Cassirer Award’. He was also selected as one of the hottest talents making waves on the South African visual artscene to make the “TALKS PROGRAMME” at the Turbine Art Fair 2015.
The 2015 “Bright Young Thing” by Art Africa magazine has donated half a million rands (R500,000.00) to different South African children’s charities and other worthy charitable causes in the last 3yrs alone.
2015 – Opening guest speaker at the inauguration of the World’s first Children’s art gallery at V&A Waterfront aimed to benefit disadvantaged kids projects in the townships of Cape Town
2014 – Records an auction price sale for his work ‘Portrait’ – More than 5 times the estimated value at Auctioneers Stephan Welz & Co (Sotheby’s South Africa).
Between 2011 – 2014 the retail price value of his work grew from a mere US$200.00 for his biggest artwork (130cm x 150cm) in 2011 to a record US$12,000.00 in 2014.
Benon is also a past winner of the Lovell Tranyr Art Trophy -2012, the Ithuba Arts Fund Grant -2011, the Bag Factory artist residence award -2011 and Finalist of the BBC MyWorld documentary global competition, London 2010
