Artist Kayimahe Ismael Zed’s art practice is one that is constantly evolving.  

Entirely self-taught, the Rwandan artist always dabbled into art as a child but circled back once he began studying Fashion Illustration at Rwanda Fashion Design Institute in 2019.  After creating his first painting, Zed began to fully immerse himself in learning about painting and drawing.  Fast forward to 2024 and the artist who is based in Kigali, Rwanda, now makes mostly acrylic on canvas paintings and works on paper.  Specifically focusing on portraiture and black women as his subject choice, Zed prefers for his paintbrush or pencils do the talking to demonstrate beauty and soul. He conveys grace and resilience through his portraits engaging viewers through a personal approach towards painting.  Portraiture has always been distinguished as the more intimate of art styles. In a sense, it provides a glimpse into a subject’s life and prompts viewers to ask questions - Who are they? Where are they from? What is their story?  Zed is exploring subjects who are not often seen on canvases.  Historically, black figures and specifically black women, have mostly been left out of art and if they were shown, it was in often stereotypical and racist roles.  Zed is essentially rewriting the rules of art history by painting and drawing black women through a flattering and genuine lens.  Taking anywhere between a few days to a few weeks to create his portraits, Zed balances a heartfelt and intentional approach to making art.