Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Michael
Wenc

Paintings that remember.

Michael Wenc in his studio
Rangi GalleryDar es Salaam
National MuseumDar es Salaam
Swami VavikendaTanzania

The Artist

About
Michael

Michael Wenseslaus Malugala — known as Michael Wenc — is a Tanzanian visual artist based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Holding B.A in Arts And Design from University of Dar es saalam. He works primarily in acrylic on canvas, building images through layered paint, texture, and stillness.

His work explores identity, memory, and cultural presence. Not through grand gestures, but through the specific: the weight of a cassette tape, the grain of a lion's mane, the smoke rising from a cooking pot, the gold of a woman's dress against dry earth.

He has exhibited at Rangi Gallery, the National Museum, and Swami Vavikenda in Tanzania — engaging viewers with compositions that feel both intimate and monumental, personal and collective.

Every painting begins with a question: what does this moment already know? The canvas answers slowly. Michael's job is to listen.

Medium

Acrylic on canvas · Mixed media

Custom Work

Commission
a Piece

A commissioned painting is an object made specifically for you — your subject, your scale, your home. Michael takes on a limited number of commissions each year to give each one the time and attention it deserves.

Subjects range from portraiture and wildlife to landscapes, still life, and abstract work. If you have an image in mind — or just a feeling — that's enough to start.

01

Brief

Tell Michael about the piece — subject, mood, size, setting. The more specific you are, the better the painting. There are no wrong answers.

02

Quote

Michael sends a quote based on size, complexity, and timeline. Pricing is honest and final — no surprises.

03

Deposit

A 50% deposit confirms your commission and secures a slot in the schedule. Work begins when the deposit clears.

04

Creation

Michael works and shares progress. You can give input at key stages. Most commissions take 4–8 weeks depending on size.

05

Delivery

Final balance on completion. The painting ships framed and professionally packed — locally or internationally.

Ready to begin?

Fill in the form below and Michael will get back to you within 48 hours.

Start a Commission

Originals for Sale

The Shop

Each painting is a unique original. All prices are in Tanzanian Shillings. International buyers welcome — shipping arranged on request.

Love in 90’s

Words Between Hearts

Sold · TSh 800,000

80x100 · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

Explores the unspoken connection between two hearts. Before breaking the seal of a handwritten letter, she already knows what it says. Set in 1990s Tanzania, the painting reflects an era when love was patiently written, deeply felt, and understood without explanation.

Commission Similar

Breezes Carry, Our Story

Sold · TSh 1,200,000

120x150 Cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

A journey of love from Gambia, now woven into the Love in 90 series, where every step whispers memories across continents.

Commission Similar

Love in 90’s

She Enjoys When I Hit 2

Sold · TSh 800,000

100x100 Cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

Tulikutana Ngomani, mikito ya ngoma na filimbi ikakita na mioyo yetu, yaliyofuata ni HISTORIA.

Commission Similar

Crowned By Ancestors

Sold · TSh 55,000

80x80 · Mixed Media · 2026

This painting celebrates the pride, strength, and joy of Tanzania's nomadic tribes, inspired by the spirit of the Barabaig people. The skull resting above her head symbolizes ancestral protection, wisdom, and the deep connection between humans, cattle, and the land. Her smile reflects resilience a reminder that true wealth is not only found in possessions, but in culture, identity, and community passed from one generation to another.

Commission Similar

Dunia Yetu

Sold · TSh 500,000

80x100 · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

"Tulikaa kimya, lakini mioyo yetu ilizungumza kila kitu".

Commission Similar

Love in 90’s

The Evening Walk

Sold · TSh 750,000

100x120 Cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2025

Under the glow of streetlights, a couple walks home after a long day. Their clothes carry the day's dust, yet their steps carry warmth and laughter. Love here is not grand or loud it's in shared stories, market bags, and the comfort of silence between familiar hearts. In this 90's night, romance lived in the ordinary and that's what made it beautiful.

Commission Similar

Love in 90’s

Unspoken Promises

TSh 750,000

100x100 Cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2025

Meeting your lover required courage walking long distances just to pass by their street hoping to see them outside.

Add to Inquiry

The Pinkest Kitty In Town

TSh 500,000

80x60 · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

The Pinkest Kitty in Town” is a playful portrait of a charming white kitten surrounded by vibrant shades of pink. The soft textures and bright blue eyes bring out a sense of innocence, beauty, and confidence with a modern expressive touch.

Add to Inquiry

Love In 90’s

Baraza La Upendo

Sold · TSh 750,000

100x100 · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

Commission Similar

Love in 90’s

Bilcanas, Disemba 1995.

TSh 750,000

100x120 · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

New Painting: Bilicanas, Disemba 1995. Bilicanas haikuwa tu night club ya kawaida, ilikuwa sehemu ya vibe kubwa na kumbukumbu. Mahali ambapo watu walikutana baada ya kazi, walicheka, walicheza, na mara nyingi mioyo ilikutana bila kupanga. Wapo wengi walioanza kwa salamu moja pale, wakaendelea na mazungumzo ya usiku, wakapendana... na yaliyobaki ni historia. Mchoro huu unarudisha enzi ambazo mapenzi hayakuhitaji internet, bali dansi moja kali, wimbo mkali, na ujasiri wa kusema, Naomba tudance.

Add to Inquiry

Two Souls, One Shadow

Sold · TSh 500,000

80x100 · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

"Two Souls, One Shadow" Inspired by the simple, genuine romance of Tanzania's coastal life. A time when love was seen in evening walks, soft conversations, and silent companionship beneath the glowing street lights. Two souls walking together, carrying one love and one shadow.

Commission Similar

Love in 90’s

She Enjoys, When I Hit

Sold · TSh 750,000

100x100 · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

This painting reflects the harvest time gatherings common in 1990s Tanzania. People would come together to celebrate with drums, dancing, and laughter after working in the fields. Moments like this brought people closer. As music played and people danced, some even met and found love. The scene shows how joy, music, and connection were all part of those special times.

Commission Similar

Love in 90's

Injaruetin / Wapenzi

TSh 750,000

90 × 120 cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

A quiet walk, hand in hand, wrapped in tradition and warmth. This piece captures a timeless kind of love — simple, loyal, and deeply rooted in culture. Set against golden earth tones, their unity speaks of commitment, partnership, and the beauty of walking life's journey side by side.

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Ndoto Ndogo

"Small Dreams"

TSh 750,000

120 × 80 cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

Utotoni furaha ilitengenezwa kwa vitu rahisi — mpira wa makaratasi, uwanja wa vumbi, na muda wa kucheza bila mipaka. Kazi hii inanasa kumbukumbu hizo na uzuri wa maisha ya kawaida yanayobeba hadithi kubwa.

Add to Inquiry

Love in 90's

Church Lovers

TSh 750,000

100 × 120 cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

From the Love in 90's series — a moment of calm, love, and grace after Sunday service. When love was simple, respectful, and rooted in faith.

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Lay With Me

Sold · TSh 500,000

100 × 70 cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

A quiet moment of closeness unfolds as a child curls into the warmth of a mother's embrace. The composition centres on touch — arms wrapped, bodies folded together — capturing a sense of safety, trust, and deep connection. Earthy tones and soft textures evoke intimacy and stillness, while the patterned fabric hints at identity and home. The piece reflects the universal comfort of being held, where love is felt without words.

Commission Similar

Love in 90's

Pendo la Kwanza

Sold · TSh 800,000

90 × 120 cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2026

Kazi hii ni sehemu ya mfululizo wa Love in 90's — nikikumbuka nyakati ambapo hisia zilikuwa rahisi, za kweli, na za moyoni kabisa.

Commission Similar

Love in 90's

My Dowry

Sold · TSh 750,000

100 × 120 cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2025

A quiet moment from traditional African courtship in the 1990s. The painting depicts a young woman dressed in traditional attire gently caring for a cow — a symbol of bride price (dowry). The act reflects love, responsibility, and the cultural value placed on marriage, family honour, and tradition. Warm colours and a calm posture emphasise respect, commitment, and the emotional weight of dowry practices.

Commission Similar

Love in 90's

Siri Yetu

Sold · TSh 750,000

120 × 90 cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2025

This vibrant painting from the Love in the Nineties series shows a joyful couple sharing a moment of laughter. Surrounded by clay pots and gentle rising steam, the scene glows with earthy colours and soft light. Their smiles and relaxed posture capture a sense of togetherness, everyday love, and the comfort of shared routines.

Commission Similar

Love in 90's

Dundo

Sold · TSh 750,000

100 × 120 cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2025

Instead of emojis, people used song dedications on radio. If your name was mentioned on Radio Tanzania, that was the ultimate "I love you."

Commission Similar

Spirits of the Wings

The Majestic

TSh 400,000

100 × 70 cm · Acrylic on Canvas board · 2025

From the Spirits of the Wings series — the lion painted with bold detail and rich tones, symbolising strength, pride, and the spirit of the wild.

Add to Inquiry

Love In 90’s

Ngoma Ya Mioyo Yetu

Sold · TSh 750,000

100x120 · Acrylic on Canvas · 2025

In the warm spirit of 90's Tanzania, where love was felt more than spoken, two hearts move as one to the rhythm of distant drums. Their dance is not just joy it's trust, laughter, and the beauty of partnership built in simple days. The colors wrap them like the melodies of taarab and the whispers of village nights a timeless ode to love that needs no stage.

Commission Similar

Wings of Africa

Wings of Africa

"African Fish Eagle"

TSh 275,000

100 × 70 cm · Acrylic on Canvas · 2025

The final piece of the Wings of Africa series features the majestic African Fish Eagle, perched proudly on a branch, its sharp gaze and striking plumage symbolising strength, freedom, and the spirit of Africa.

Add to Inquiry

All originals include a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist. Framing and international shipping can be arranged — ask in your inquiry.

Inquire About a Piece

Get in Touch

Contact

Whether you're interested in a commission, an available painting, or just want to say hello — Michael reads every message personally.

Response time is typically within 48 hours. For urgent inquiries or exhibition requests, include that in your message.

Location

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Studio visits

By appointment