Picha and the Lubumbashi Biennale

Founded in 2008 in Lubumbashi, the Picha Collective emerged from the initiative of a group of artists and cultural practitioners seeking to create a space for reflection, production, and dissemination dedicated to contemporary art in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The word Picha, meaning “image” in Swahili, reflects the collective’s ambition to use art and visual expression as tools for storytelling, memory, and dialogue.

Since its inception, Picha has aimed to build a sustainable cultural ecosystem in the DRC by supporting local talent and fostering connections with artistic communities across Africa and beyond. To achieve this vision, Picha is structured around three key pillars:

• The Picha Art and Research Center, located in Makomeno — a dynamic space for exhibitions, creation, and artistic exchange;

• The Picha Workshops, a training and mentorship program designed to support emerging artists;

• The Lubumbashi Biennale, the organization’s flagship event dedicated to lens- based and contemporary art practices.

The Lubumbashi Biennale, formerly known as Rencontres Picha, has become one of the most significant events in contemporary art across Central Africa. Held every two years, it brings together artists, curators, and researchers from around the world around themes that question the city, its history, and its transformations.

Over the years, the Biennale has helped establish Lubumbashi as a vibrant artistic hub, where creation, critical thought, and engagement converge. Its upcoming edition in 2026 will further affirm Picha and the Lubumbashi Biennale as key platforms for Congolese and African contemporary art, deeply rooted locally yet open to the world.

Collective: Sammy Baloji (founder), George Senga, Filip De Boeck, Gabriele Salmi, Aimé Kalenda, Jean Katambayi (president), Alexandre Mulongo, Rosa Spaliviero

Coordinator: Jean-Sylvain Tshilumba

Director: Gaelle Van Lede