(1954 - 2009)
Geoffrey Ernest Katantazi Mukasa, widely recognized as one of East Africa's prominent and sought-after painter was born in Uganda in 1954 as part of an influential family. After a family tragedy, he left Uganda to study and pursue arts. Mukasa studied Fine Art at the Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts in India from from 1978 to 1984. His artistic foundation was laid by his mentor, Indian master painter M.F. Husain; and was deeply influenced by European modernists George Braque and Pablo Picasso. In 1984, he returned to Uganda to worked as a graphic designer with the Ministry of Information and Uganda Television briefly. From the early 1990s, Mukasa became a crucial figure in the movement to revive cultural life after years of military dictatorship. With this, his reputation grew, and he took part in numerous group exhibitions in Europe including Austria, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia, and throughout East Africa. He was notable for his canvases rooted in social life and culture depicted in rich, vibrant color; reflecting his deep appreciation for the Indian and European aesthetics that made his work unlike any other in his region. He was celebrated and well known in Uganda and abroad. Some of his works are held by collections in America, Europe, and Africa. Geoffrey Mukasa passed away in 2009 at the age of 55.