Djofray Makumbu
Djofray Makumbu (b. 1994, London) is a British Congolese artist based in East London. He graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London and completed the postgraduate programme at the Royal Academy Schools. Following his Goldsmiths degree show, he was awarded the Alumno/SPACE Studio Bursary and has since received the Goldsmiths Exhibitions Hub Commission, the LOEWE FOUNDATION / Studio Voltaire Award and a Guest Projects Digital Residency with the Yinka Shonibare Foundation.
Working across painting, moving image and installation, Makumbu explores memory, identity and the social histories embedded within family and community life. Drawing on personal archives, photography and film, his practice reflects on the experiences of the Congolese diaspora in Britain, examining themes of belonging, intergenerational memory and the ways in which everyday moments become repositories of cultural history. His works further explores questions of mental health, disability, policing and the lived experiences of young Black people in Britain, combining animation, archive and documentary.
Recent solo exhibitions include Snap! at SPACE, London (2024–25). His work has also been exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts, South London Gallery, Studio Voltaire, Bolanle Contemporary and Thomas Dane Gallery.
Makumbu’s work is held in the UK Government Art Collection and the Royal Academy Collection, as well as private collections across internationally and the United States.
