Owanto (born December 13, 1953 in Paris) is a British Gabonese artist. Biography Owanto was born on December 13, 1953 in Paris, and spent her adolescence in Libreville, Gabon, where she spent her formative years, later moving to Madrid and studying at the Institut Catholic de Paris In 2009, Owanto represented the Republic of Gabon at the 53rd Venice Biennale with her piece The Lighthouse of Memory/ Go Nogé Mènè, curated by Fernando Francès, being the first Central African artist to exhibit solo in a National Pavilion. Owanto stated that the piece was inspired by an artistic proposal she called “Où Allons Nous?” (Where Are We Going?). Owanto also states that; "Gabon was looking for new directions, as was the rest of the world - new systems, new models of society, new ways of seeing.” Work Owanto's work has focused on many themes, including consciousness, memory, cross-cultural existential dialogues, among others. Owanto’s current projects focus on women’s liberation, resilience, healing, and transformation. Owanto’s art has entered into pop, conceptual and minimal genres in both her statuary work and others Accolades Owanto won the Mbokodo Award in 2020. “The awards honor women who have strengthened communities and individuals through their art.” Exhibitions 2009: “The Lighthouse of Memory/ Go Nogé Mènè” Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy 2011: "El Faro de la Memoria" Galería Maior, Vigo, Spain 2012: "Où Allons Nous?" Voice Gallery, Marrakech, Morocco 2013: "Protect" Jardins de Saint Martin, Monaco 2014: "Here, Now." Biennale de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco 2015: Owanto " L'Atelier de l'artiste" Art Marbella, Galeria Yusto-Giner, Marbella, Spain 2016: "Flowers" Conseil National, Monaco 2018: "Dance with Me" African Artists Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria 2018: "Flowers" Voice Gallery, Marrakech, Morocco 2019: "One Thousand Voices" Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina (MADRE), Naples, Italy 2019: "One Thousand Voices" Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Z-MOCAA), Cape Town, South Africa 2020: "Flowers" Sakhile&Me, Frankfurt, Germany 2020: "La Bible de ma Mère" LagosPhoto20, Online Home Museum Group Exhibits 2016: "Made in Spain. Periplo por el arte español de hoy" MAD Antequera, Málaga, Spain 2016: "Beauty" Centro de Exposiciones de Benalmádena, Benalmádena, Spain; MAD Antequera, Málaga, Spain 2016: "Group Presentation" 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London (Voice Gallery), London, UK 2017: "All Things Being Equal..." Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Z-MOCAA), Cape Town, South Africa 2017: "Group Presentation" 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London (Voice Gallery), London, UK 2017: "Group Presentation" Also Known As Africa Art Fair