MEET
Davi Dombele
Daví Dombele (b. Sambizanga, Luanda) is a rising voice in contemporary Angolan art, known for his evocative paintings that merge the real and the allegorical. His creative journey began early — at just 7 years old, he was already illustrating comic strips, a formative experience that laid the groundwork for his unique visual language. In 2016, he embraced painting as a professional path, later refining his practice at CEART – Complexo Escolar das Artes in 2018, where he shaped his identity as an “illustracionista.”
Dombele’s work is grounded in daily observation and visual research, weaving together imagery from life and imagination to bridge fiction and reality. Through mediums such as acrylic on canvas, he explores themes of identity, cultural heritage, and symbolic narrative, using art as a tool to question, reflect, and engage.
His distinctive approach has earned him critical acclaim, including the Angola 35 Graus Award (2019, Art and Culture) and the Musseque Youth Award (2023, Culture and Art). He also took part in the Resiliart Angola Artistic Residency organised by UNESCO, underscoring his role in shaping the contemporary art scene in Angola and beyond.
Selected Exhibitions:
Mulheres (2018), Hotel HCTA, Luanda
Odyssey (2018), Hotel HCTA, Luanda
Animália (2020), Shopping Avenida, Luanda
Bienal da Paz (2021), Fortaleza de São Miguel, Luanda
Bound No More (2022), The Africana Institute, New Jersey, USA
O Culto da Deusa (2022), UNAP, Luanda
A Grande Mãe (2023), UNAP, Luanda
Resiliart Angola (2023–2024), New Jersey, USA
Centenário de Uanhenga Xitu (2024), Memorial António Agostinho Neto, Luanda
Daví Dombele’s art captures the complexity of contemporary African identity, offering a hybrid visual space where narrative painting, symbolism, and emotional introspection converge. With growing recognition in both national and international circles, he is part of a new generation of Angolan contemporary artists whose work speaks across borders and cultural contexts.