Lakwena Maciver is a London-based artist whose bold, brightly coloured paintings, murals and large-scale public works combine op-art geometry, 1980s-style graphics and short, uplifting words. Her work draws on The Gospel, worship, themes of hope and joy and is rooted in her Christian faith.

Born in the eighties to an English mother and a Ugandan father in north London, she has roots in Ethiopia too. She grew up thinking of herself as African, and experienced racism and the pain of not feeling accepted which led her to ask questions about where she belonged.

After studying graphic design at the London College of Communication her style took shape when she was invited to paint a mural for a church in Brazil. Her breakthrough came with I Remember Paradise, a mural for the Wynwood Walls festival in Miami in 2013. Since then her work has appeared across the world, from the Bowery Wall in New York and a monastery in Vienna to Tate Britain and the Southbank Centre in London.

In this episode of The Profile she talks to Premier Christianity journalist AJ Gomez about her childhood and the journey of her developing her sense of identity, the importance of colour and how God is the ultimate creator.

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Released on 12 Nov 2026