Art Exhibition (Painting the Change)

On the 20th of March 2026, the Rooted Rising Initiative hosted an art exhibition that brought together a diverse audience, students, academics, activists, and community members. This space allowed us to showcase the artworks from the live painting session and helped people engage directly with the complete stories on the canvases. Participants spent time reflecting on the realities being presented. We observed that the artworks created an emotional connection that data and reports often fail to achieve. Artivism We are all artists Make ups, hair styles, etc We show our autonomy even while in community We speak through art … Through lines Through verses Through splashes Sometimes with our mouths shut The earth is our canvass Awareness Consciousness Makes situations understandable, relatable …not dry and abstract Imaginations Empowerment Capturing and sharing unjust incidents Healing Connecting… with stories…building cooperation Painting Change is a highly creative expression The diversity of ideas by the artists show the inbuilt strength in the art field Artivism is Deliberate. Focused Hard hitting Subtle Fun It is a Call for Action - Dr. Nnimmo Bassey