Daily Drawing From The Heart: A Conversation with PATRICK KWIZERA

Patrick Kwizera is a Rwandan visual artist whose work draws from his experiences, cultural identity, and the vibrant aesthetics of African life. A École d’Art de Nyundo graduate, known for capturing raw emotion and storytelling through colour, form, and symbolism, inspired by real-life moments and motivated by the creative energy of their peers, Patrick Kwizera explores the complexities of identity and the power of everyday life.

Can you tell us about the moment you first considered yourself an artist?

I believe everyone is born an artist, but I began practising early. When I was about six, my childhood friend lived next door, and I used to draw on the walls of buildings with charcoal. Our parents weren’t thrilled, and we were punished, but that didn’t stop us. A few years later, when I was around ten, that same friend came over, and we started drawing with pencils and coloured pencils on paper. That was when I first felt a deep, almost sacred love for art.

In primary and junior high school, I became the kid teachers relied on to draw on the chalkboard. That trust gave me confidence. But the moment I truly considered myself an artist was during my first year at the École d’Art de Nyundo. Being surrounded by other passionate creatives made it real.

Growing up with a friend who shared my creative spark greatly influenced me. We constantly exchanged ideas and encouraged each other. Being chosen to draw in front of the whole class gave me a sense of responsibility and visibility. Those experiences planted the seeds of my creativity and helped me take myself seriously as an artist, even from a young age.

Were there any turning points or challenges that significantly influenced your journey as an artist?

Absolutely. One major turning point was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Like many others, I faced a difficult time. I had to step away from art because I couldn’t find a way to break into the art business, and I needed income. For six months, I worked as a kindergarten art teacher. It was a positive experience in many ways, but deep down, I kept hearing this call to return to my passion.

Eventually, I made the decision to quit and return to art — but this time with a clearer vision, treating it not just as something I loved but as something I could do professionally and seriously.

What is your work trying to capture?

My work is rooted in real-time experiences — either from my own life or from the lives of those around me. I’m drawn to capturing real emotion and truth in my work.

I want each piece to tell a story, to be more than just an image.

It has to carry weight.