MFA Painter Conrad Nkamwesiga

Selected for Prestigious New Texas Talent 33 Exhibition

Friday, Jun 12, 2026 • Art and Art History : Contact

Conrad Nkamwesiga posing next to one of his paintings.UTA MFA student Conrad Nkamwesiga has been selected for New Texas Talent 33, a statewide juried exhibition organized annually by Craighead Green Gallery to introduce and promote emerging visual artists in the commercial market. 

Founded to spotlight rising talent across Texas, New Texas Talent draws hundreds of submissions each year, with artists selected by a distinguished juror for inclusion in the exhibition. Over the years, participating artists have gained gallery representation, invitations to future exhibitions, and recognition in regional arts publications. This year’s exhibition was juried by Daisha Board, founding director of Daisha Board Gallery in Dallas and founder of Black Sheep Art Culture. Board selected 50 artists from more than 500 applicants statewide. 

Painting of two albino female figures with large Afros, grooming their hair.Nkamwesiga’s selected work, Gold Dust Daughters in a Dust-Stained World (23 x 43 inches), combines oil, acrylic, and hair waste on canvas. The painting depicts “two albino female figures with large Afros, grooming their hair” in a rural setting surrounded by makeshift houses and illuminated by the glow of an African sunset. 

Originally from Uganda, Nkamwesiga joined UTA’s MFA program in painting in 2024. His work explores themes of memory, cultural identity, spirituality, and disappearing histories. Earlier this year, his work was on view at The Gallery at UTA and previously had been featured in Beyond Borders exhibition in the Dallas Tin District. 

Reflecting on the significance of this recognition, Nkamwesiga shared: 

Sketch of a person laying on their front with text that reads "Guarded in Grace... in the green pastures."“I have often wrestled with doubt privately, so a moment like this—being selected among the top 50 out of more than 500 artists—feels like a meaningful encouragement to keep going. It reminds me that authenticity matters, and that deeply personal stories can connect with people in unexpected ways. If my work can carry fragments of disappearing histories, conflicting cultures, and inspiration from my Christian faith into contemporary conversations, then I feel I’m doing something worthwhile.” 

New Texas Talent 33 will be on view from June 27 through August 22, with an opening reception on June 27 from 5–8 p.m. at Craighead Green Gallery in the Dallas Design District.