Januario Jano is an interdisciplinary artist who works across sculpture, video, photography, textile and sound installations, and performance. He holds an MFA in Fine Art from Goldsmiths University and his practice is substantially research-based. Januario’s work has been exhibited internationally and is included in notable private and public collections. His commitment to cultural and social engagement led him to establish Pés Descalços, a cultural and philanthropic collective focused on developing and promoting artistic and cultural pro- jects in Angola. The collective complements the need for intervention in a sustained and grounded manner to enhance the current cultural reinvention taking place in that country.
Since 2012, Januario has also been the driving force to help rewrite Angola’s next chapter, from civil war-torn state to innovation hub with the launch of TEDxLuanda, which he organizes and curates. This year Januario’s started with a solo exhibition Imbambas: Unsettled Feelings of an Object and Self at Kristin Hjelledjerde gallery in London selected to the Top 5 best exhibitions to see in London in January according to FAD magazine, shortlisted for The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize and The Queen Sonja Print Award. In 2021 Januario’s first major solo exhibition at Gallery Jean-Claude Maier in Frankfurt, curated by Mahret Ifeoma Kupka, the exhibition has been reviewed on major art platforms and was named a “Top 5” best exhibition to see in the E.U. by Frieze magazine. Januario’s work was also featured in a group show at the Tree Art Museum in Beijing.
In addition, Januario was selected for the Vantage Point Sharjah 9 project by the Sharjah Foundation, also performing at Goldsmiths CCA in London, and was one the selected artists for Poldra 2021, a sculpture park project in Viseu, Portugal. He also participated in a “Masterclass” at Circuit by Braga Media Arts 2021 in Braga, Portugal.
In 2020 Januario participated in several group exhibitions both as artist and curator, including the London Grads Now at Saatchi Gallery in London, Departure in Lisbon and many others. In addition, he was one of the speakers at the Loeries Creative Week 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Januario has been the recipient of multiple awards, including the Art Laguna Prize in 2016, Business for Art prize in Venice, and received a grant from the Foundation Gulbenkian for the “180 artists to the south” residency program run by the Hangar Center in Lisbon.
