Djofray Makumbu

Djofray Makumbu in his studio, 2024
Photo: Tolu Elusade

Djofray Makumbu, a British Congolese artist, intricately weaves personal narratives with collective memory, exploring themes of mental health, urban life, and cultural expression. His East London upbringing and Congolese heritage deeply inform his visual language, lending each work a layered complexity and cultural resonance.

Spanning painting, sculpture, moving image, and Claymation, Makumbu’s practice reveals a meticulous, tactile approach. Handcrafted sets, tailored costumes, and stop-motion animation converge to create immersive environments where materiality and memory interact fluidly. His compositions possess a raw immediacy, drawing from the textures of lived experience and the influences of his heritage, grounding his work in a deeply felt sense of place and history.

Collaboration is essential to his approach. Family and friends frequently join as co-creators, infusing his works with a personal authenticity and adding depth to his exploration of mental health stigma, urban youth challenges, and the release found in music and dance. In each piece, the creative process itself emerges as an act of resilience and self-discovery, bridging personal and communal stories.

Soundscapes within his installations further intensify the experience, pulsing with the rhythms of East London and the cultural beats of his heritage. Makumbu’s practice opens a contemplative space, inviting viewers into a dialogue on identity, memory, and the shared threads of history and experience