Makano Bwato is a Congolese visual artist based in Kampala with a multifaceted practice in which writing plays a central role. He channels tumultuous thought processes into superimposed pieces of abstract poetry that sometimes contract into the form of a manic one-eyed alter-ego, grinning the artist’s name “Makano.” After losing both his parents to the political unrest and armed conflicts in Congo, art became his vehicle to process trauma and find a form of expression for the unspeakable. Carried by an almost frenetic energy, his paintings don’t stop at the confined space of the canvas but sprawl onto any conceivable surface in the artist’s proximity.

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In June 2024, Makano had a solo exhibition titled "I AM," which was a celebration of rebirth and self-discovery. It was a vibrant declaration of existence, an assertion of self in a world fraught with turmoil, declaring, "I'm MAKANO. I am here. I am part of this dialogue. I've got opinions. I am not always right. I am not always on time. My thoughts are unapologetic; I don't always say things in the so-called 'proper way,' but my intentions are always pure." The exhibition was a celebration of the human journey toward healing, empowerment, and self-realization.

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Makano’s work has been part of several group exhibitions in Masaka, Kampala, New York, London, Dar es salaam, Lagos and Accra. He is the recipient of an award for the best artist based in Uganda under the age of 20 in 2021.