​

BIOGRAPHY

​​

Hawa-Jane Bangura is a visual artist based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She studied art in the United Kingdom and the United States, and also holds a degree in law. Prior to dedicating herself fully to her artistic practice, she built a successful legal career as a member of the New York State Bar and within Sierra Leone’s corporate sector.

​

In 2013, she founded The Barray, an art collective of approximately 15 local artists, through which she provided skills training and mentorship. In December 2015, she curated and organized the collective’s first exhibition. The group went on to exhibit twice annually, and up until December 2020,  it was the country’s only recurring art event.

​

In 2026, she was selected to represent Sierra Leone at its inaugural National Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale.

​

Bangura is also active in the digital art space. She is a member of the 1mA Collective and the Cyberbaat Collective—both African-led initiatives engaged in NFT art and international digital exhibitions. In 2022, she participated in the inaugural Art Dubai Digital exhibition with Cyberbaat.

Her work explores African history, culture, and identity, with a particular focus on the representation of African women. Grounded in the belief that African narratives must be authored and preserved by Africans themselves, her practice reflects both personal experience and broader historical consciousness. Influenced by strong female role models and an awareness of the central role of African women in human history, she uses her work to provoke dialogue, transmit knowledge, and inspire social awareness.

​

Working primarily in acrylic on canvas, Bangura has developed a distinctive mark-making technique that blends elements of pointillism and stippling. She also creates NFT adaptations of her paintings, incorporating digital overlays.

​

Her work has also been exhibited in Washington, D.C., New York, Casablanca, Dubai, Dakar, Luanda, Paris, and London, as well as in numerous virtual exhibitions. It has been featured by Reuters, BBC, The Independent, and various international and local media platforms.

​