RANGI GALLERY RETURNS FROM SEOUL - SOUTH KOREA, HAVING PLACED TANZANIA ON THE GLOBAL ART MAP

First Tanzanian gallery to participate in South Korea’s Art OnO international fair

Dar es Salaam, April 21, 2026 — Something remarkable unfolded in Seoul between April 2 and 5. At a sprawling exhibition centre in the heart of South Korea’s capital, a gallery from Dar es Salaam stood shoulder to shoulder with some of the world’s most respected art institutions.

Rangi Gallery — founded and led by Tanzanian lawyer-turned-gallerist Lorna Mashiba Albou — became the first gallery from Tanzania to participate in Art OnO, one of Asia’s most distinctive international art fairs.

Let that settle for a moment: the first. Ever.

Art OnO — short for “Art One and Only” — is now in its third edition and stands apart from traditional art fairs. Hosted at the SETEC Exhibition Center, it brought together 35 galleries and institutions from 12 countries, including prominent participants from Japan, Germany, and Switzerland. Its philosophy goes beyond commerce, creating a space where commercial galleries and non-profit institutions meet as equals. In such a setting, participation alone signals credibility.

Rangi Gallery did more than participate — it stood out.

The gallery showcased four Tanzanian women artists, each offering a distinct perspective on contemporary Tanzanian art:

• Theresia Venance presented intimate figurative portraits exploring womanhood and resilience with emotional depth and universality.
• Valerie Asiimwe Amani used mixed media to delve into cosmology and cultural identity, posing profound questions through subtle expression.
• Turakella Editha Gyindo explored themes of ritual, healing, and transformation, evoking spiritual cleansing through her work.
• Tulsi Patel transformed water — its flow and movement — into a compelling metaphor for the inner workings of the human body.

Notably, the all-women lineup was not intentional. According to Mashiba Albou, the selection was purely merit-based — a reflection of the strength and depth of female artistic talent emerging from Tanzania today.

And the momentum does not stop in Seoul.

Two of the featured artists — Valerie Asiimwe Amani and Turakella Editha Gyindo — are set to represent Tanzania at the Venice Biennale 2026, widely regarded as the pinnacle of the global art world. Lorna Mashiba Albou herself has been appointed curator of Tanzania’s national pavilion. From Seoul to Venice, the trajectory is clear: Tanzanian contemporary art is gaining global recognition, and Rangi Gallery is at the forefront of that movement.

The exhibition also carried diplomatic significance. Tanzania’s outgoing Ambassador to South Korea, Togolani Edriss Mavura, attended the fair in person — underscoring the role of art as a bridge between nations and cultures, extending beyond formal diplomacy into meaningful human connection.

Founded in Dar es Salaam, Rangi Gallery reflects Mashiba Albou’s transition from a decade-long career in corporate law into the creative economy. The gallery supports both emerging and established artists and runs the Rangi Nyumbani Residency, an initiative designed to connect Tanzanian creatives with international networks. Its participation in Art OnO 2026 marks the gallery’s second international showcase, following its debut in South Africa in 2025.

Tanzania has never lacked artistic talent. What it has historically needed are platforms, infrastructure, and global access points. Rangi Gallery is helping to build those bridges — one international stage at a time.