Congolese Leader Lumumba Graphic Portrait by Eliam

Art that builds community

Black and white illustration of a person with two heads dressed in tribal or traditional clothing, holding a paintbrush in one hand and a microphone in the other, with a banner reading 'PASSABY' in front of them, and a background of concentric circles.

Passaby Collective is a group of East African artists transforming perspectives and building community through the power of art.

Based in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, we are passionate about showcasing the richness and diversity of our artistic heritage while using art to build peace. We believe art has the power to transform communities, and we use art to build resilience through community workshops.

buy art from artists in east africa.

Politican Patrice Lumumba from Democratic Republic of Congo

LUMUMBA Poster

Artist: Eliam Mupipi

happy African woman oil painting

Happy Woman

Artist: Passaby Artist

african mother kisses baby on lips

A Mother’s Kiss

Artist: Passaby Artist

All prints are created from high quality images sourced directly from the artists. if interested in purchasing the original artwork, please contact us.

art print of African children playing on tires

Children play on tires

Artist: Passaby Artist

An expressive painting of a person riding a bicycle with other cyclists in the background, set against a colorful sunset sky.

Child’s play

Artist: Passaby Artist

art print of refugee's escaping at night

Refugee exodus

Artist: Passaby Artist

community projects

A group of five people standing in an alley with vibrant graffiti and mural art on the wall behind them, with one person pointing at the artwork.

The Passaby Collective believes art is a force for social change. We are committed to promoting artistic growth and cultural appreciation from art curation to community art projects. Discover how we utilize art to foster peace in communities devastated by war, support children in healing from trauma through artful expression, and explore the educational and therapeutic benefits of street murals in enhancing community well-being and mental health.

Join us to bring our plans for the next artist exchange workshops and peace art festival to life.

Meet the Artists

  • A man wearing a red and white striped polo shirt, a black beanie, and a gold wristwatch, with his hand on his chin, posing in front of a plain gray background.

    Lebon Butu Samuel

    FOUNDER

    Lebon Butu Samuel is a visionary multidisciplinary artist from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the founder of Passaby Collective. As a rapper, breakdancer, and fashion designer, he uses art as a powerful tool to build and unite communities. Growing up on the streets of Goma, Lebon discovered the transformative power of creativity at an early age. Through Passaby Collective, Lebon continues to cultivate a dynamic network of artists across East Africa, championing collaboration, cultural exchange, and artistic innovation.

  • A man in a white chef's jacket standing with hands clasped in front of an abstract black and gold textured art piece.

    Nsimbe Grace

    UGANDA

    Nsimbe Grace is a multidisciplinary artist from Busabala, in the Central Region of Uganda. He graduated from Kyambogo University School of Art and Industrial Design as a sculptor, finding expression through various materials including metalwork, wood, and canvas. He explores themes of resilience, gloom, joy and strength - with Africa and all of its complexity as his dominant subject.

  • Woman with long dark curly hair, wearing sunglasses and a red top, holding a pink flower near her face by the poolside

    Kelliah Kanyamuneza

    RWANDA

    Kelliah Kanyamuneza is a visual artist born in Burundi. Her artistic journey began in 2008 while attending middle school in southern Rwanda. She subsequently pursued further studies in Burundi and in France. Her university years in Montpellier and stays in Geneva, Switzerland, solidified her passion for art, drawing, and painting. Kanyamuneza's work explores the interplay of geometric shapes and indigenous pigments. Deeply rooted in African mythology, her art celebrates femininity, sisterhood, and the natural world.

  • A young man with dreadlocks, wearing a black polo shirt, necklace, and backpack, standing outdoors against a pinkish wall.

    Albinx Cikciz

    DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

    Albinx Cikciz is a contemporary visual artist from Goma, DR Congo. Albinx’s distinctive style is characterized by an expressive blend of abstract figures and other creative pieces across a variety of media, combining order and disorder in his universe with a self-taught mind and creative soul. Growing up in a region traumatized by wars and natural disasters, his works and creations explore themes such as globalization, migration, and social identity.

  • Teenager wearing sunglasses, cap, and casual clothes jumping in the air on colorful outdoor mural art

    Eliam Mupipi

    DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

    Eliam Mupipi is a painter, street artist, and interior designer whose work blends dance, drawing, and graffiti into a vibrant expression of urban culture. Deeply inspired by music, he sees his art as a symbiosis of movement and visual storytelling. Through bold patterns and ancestral symbols, Eliam seeks to revive African heritage in the modern urban landscape. His work bridges tradition and contemporary life, inviting viewers on a journey between dream and reality, past and present.

  • A young man with a serious expression standing outdoors in front of a lush green leafy background with light blue flowers. He is wearing a black denim shirt, a grey backpack, headphones around his neck, and a black wristband, holding a red object in his left hand.

    Josue Fikiri

    DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

    Josue Fikiri is a visual artist and framer based in the DR Congo. From a young age, he has been passionate about creation, drawing inspiration from video games and a commitment to environmental sustainability. Josue believes in the transformative power of art to spark meaningful conversations. His art not only enriches the regional artistic and cultural landscape but also serves as a bridge between past and future, innovation and heritage.

  • A young man with dreadlocks standing outdoors in front of modern buildings, wearing a beige checkered shirt and layered necklaces.

    Léon Chika

    DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

    Léon Chika is a visual artist born in Goma, DR Congo. In 2002, he was introduced to art through comics and has since experimented with other mediums. A multifaceted artist, his work is characterized by a combination of references to American comic book lines, the hues of classic Congolese paintings, and a typographic approach that is both graphic and close to street art.

  • Jobray artist from Uganda

    Jobray

    UGANDA

    Jobray is a graffiti artist, muralist, and urban art teacher from Kampala, Uganda.

    Jobray is also the designer of our Passaby logo.

  • Black and white illustration of a woman in traditional clothing holding paintbrushes and a microphone, with a banner reading 'PASSABY' in front of her. The background features concentric circles.

    This could be you!

    Applications for new collective members are now open. Email us your artist statement and portfolio at passaby.collective@gmail.com