Leilah Babirye: Ekimyula Ekijjankunene (The Gorgeous Grotesque / Die prächtige Groteske)

Recognised for her unique sculptures and use of discarded materials, Leilah Babirye (b. 1985) incorporates metals, ceramics and hand-carved wood in her multidisciplinary practice to explore themes of identity, sexuality and queer activism. Babirye, who fled Uganda’s anti-LGBT legislation and hostile political climate, uses her work to address the lived experiences of those in the queer community in Uganda and across Africa. Babirye has cultivated a signature style through her blend of African iconography, such as masks and totems, as well as ‘found’ materials sourced from the streets of New York, to express and celebrate LGBTQ+ stories and identities. Informed by the artist’s own personal history, Babirye’s work often positions mask-like heads and faces as her primary subject matter, referencing her heritage whilst advocating for her community.

‘Reusing materials is important to me, as a person who comes from a background where the LGBTQ community is looked at as trash still today. As an artist, I find beauty in using found materials to showcase and reclaim my community.’

L. Babirye, ‘Leilah Babirye on Reclaiming her Queer Community’, in Art in America, 2021.