Monica Okello (b. 2001, London, UK) is an artist and designer with a keen focus on storytelling, identity and archival practices, often exploring themes around Black womanhood, memory, and the intersection of personal and collective histories within her work.

Monica is currently based in London, and is working on existing between there, Kampala and Dar es Salaam in the future. She received her BA in Graphic Communication Design (with Creative Computing), graduating with First Class Honours in July 2024.

For her first solo show, SARAPHINA, Monica presents a series of photographs taken during a trip to visit her family in Tanzania in December 2023. At the heart of this is a special moment shared with her niece, who she met for the first time on this trip — a meaningful reflection of Monica’s connection to her motherland and the familial bonds that exist beyond borders and generations.

Social media handles

@monicaokello