Sebastião Coana
Mozambique
Sebastião Coana was born in the rural area of Manhiça district, Maputo province, in 1987.
He is a contemporary Mozambican artist dedicated to a variety of creative works such as cultural installations, street art and oil paintings, inspired by daily life and dynamic colors due to his fascination with the subject.
The artist discovered his talent at a young age, in 1995. Later, in 2000, he joined the youth art program at the National Museum of Arts in Maputo.
Coana graduated from the School of Architecture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts of China in Beijing (CAFA) in 2012 and with a Masters in International Finance from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing.
His paintings and street murals are in various public and private collections in Mozambique, including the National Museum of Art and abroad, in over 25 countries, such as China-Beijing 798 Art District, New York, South Africa , Finland, among others.
Currently, Coana supports the reconstruction of the community where he was born, channeling part of his income, from art, to reduce the suffering of local residents.
His recent public art works include: History of Matola - Mural art over 50 m wide for the newly constructed municipal building of Matola, in the city of Matola; Bring Back Maputo - mural art, 3000m squared block with a series of works of art that transformed this red light district, into a new area of tourism that employs women who were sex workers as housekeepers. The area was painted with messages of hope for social interaction and empowerment of sex workers in downtown Maputo City.
Events and Exhibitions
2022 - Expo Individual RECICLARTE no Absa Bank sede premium;
2020 – Live art painting to support victims of terrorism in Cabo Delegado and Curated Expo KuImbondi, in Galeria Porto de Maputo, Mozambique;
2019 – Expo Transcending, Maputo city Mall-Maputo, Mozambique;
2017 – Annual Expo National Museum of Arts Maputo, Moçambique;
2015 – Symphony of Cultures- Kempinski hotel, Beijing, China;
2014, 2013, 2012 e 2011 – Taipei Art Revolution – Taipei, Taiwan;
2012 – “Inspiring Artists” Fox Gallery, Shanghai, China;
2010 – “The Girl of Oranges” Maputo, Mozambique;
2008 – “Inspiring Artists Group Show” in Beijing Colors of Joy Gallery – Beijing 798, China;
2007 – “Colored Africa” Beijing Colors of Joy Gallery – Beijing 798, China;
2007 – “Rising Hope” Mozambican Association of Photography – Maputo, Mozambique;
2006 – “Africa – China Young Artists Exhibition” Colors of Joy Art Gallery – Beijing 798 Beijing, China;
2005 – “The Moon of Yesterday” Maputo;
Cultural House – Maputo, Mozambique;
2005 – “Behind the Canvas” Newtown Johannesburg, South Africa;
2005 – “New York Art Expo 05” Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre – NY, United States of America;
2004 – “Descoberta Art Fair” Brasil Cultural Centre Maputo, Mozambique;
2004 – “Expo Annual Musart 2004” Location Maputo, Mozambique;
2003 – “Young Artists from Portuguese Speaking Countries” group exhibition, Camoes Institute Exhibition Hall – Maputo, Mozambique;
2003 – “World Youth Arts Expo” Confirm the hall Hyvinkaan – Finland;
2003 – “Brasil Cultural Centre Annual Art Show”. Brasil Cultural Centre – Maputo, Mozambique;
2002 – “Expo Annual Musart 2002” National Art Museum – Maputo, Mozambique.
Awards
2004 – “UNESCO Art on Human Rights” Award Winner, UNESCO Mozambique Headquarters – Maputo, Mozambique;
2005 – “Expo Momentum” Mural Paintings Award, Alto Maé – Maputo, Mozambique;
2007 – “National Mural Painting Award” PSI Jeito Mozambique – Maputo, Mozambique;
2016 – Entrepreneur of the Year, RM-Radio Cidade;
2017 – Entrepreneur of the Year ANJE, Banco Comercial e de Investimentos;
2018 – All Africa Top Innovator of Climate Action Sustainability Challenge by AbinBev- South Africa;
2019 – StartUpper of the Year by TOTAL Moçambique.