A new cultural destination has arrived with the launch of Oikos Gallery and Interiors along Port Bell Road, a space dedicated to celebrating East African art and design.
The inaugural event was less a formal exhibition and more a vibrant cultural gathering, featuring music from the Adungu, a traditional Ugandan folk instrument, alongside refreshments and a display of unique Ugandan and Ethiopian artwork and furnishings.
The gallery, bathed in soft, ambient lighting, blends contemporary canvases, sculpted masks, and furniture that merges utility with fine art.
This vision is the brainchild of Ethiopian relatives Selamawit Alene and her niece Dorina De Vita, both of whom have deep family roots in art and furniture design.
Alene, an interior design graduate, brings over two decades of experience. “I have been in this business for almost 21 years. We come from a family of furniture designers. My sister, Saba Alene, founded St. George Gallery in Addis Ababa 34 years ago, and I joined her for 21 years,” she explained.
She went on to launch her own gallery, Golla Art Gallery, in Addis Ababa in 2019. De Vita, based in Kampala, had previously cultivated an Afro-inspired handcraft business before partnering with her aunt to create Oikos.
The decision to open in Uganda was driven by a shared passion for collecting and promoting African creativity, with a mission extending beyond showcasing Ethiopian art. “Africa has so much variety, culture, history, and craft,” Alene said, emphasizing that many Africans do not fully engage with their heritage
. The gallery reimagines antique pieces into functional, modern furniture, blending historical aesthetics with contemporary living.
Oikos’s debut collection features works from both Ugandan and Ethiopian artists, but the founders prioritize promoting local talent. “Our main aim is to promote Ugandan artists,” Alene noted. “We want to uplift Ugandan talent because Uganda is a beautiful country with so much potential in art.”
Trust and authenticity are central to the gallery’s ethos. “We do not want duplicates. Whatever we are selling here, we give a certificate of authenticity. That is the difference. We want Ugandan art buyers to trust what they buy,” De Vita said.
Sustainability is also key. De Vita highlighted a polished tree trunk piece, noting it came from repurposed wood from construction on Lubowa Hill. Many furnishings incorporate recycled materials, such as old doors converted into coffee tables.
“We purchase wood from licensed suppliers only, and we believe in planting a tree when one is cut. Sustainability is very important for us,” she added.
Beyond retail, Oikos aims to be a central cultural hub, hosting three to five art events annually, including solo and group exhibitions.
The gallery represents an intergenerational creative legacy: De Vita’s father, Salvatore De Vita, was a renowned furniture designer, while her siblings are established in fashion and art, making Oikos the latest chapter in their family’s artistic journey.