Ever heard of Antoinette Lubaki? The first female Congolese painter in history and a revolutionary force in 1920s African art? While her name has faded from mainstream art history, her story pulses with drama, innovation, and defiance. A chief’s daughter whose extraordinary murals in a remote Congolese village caught the eye of a Belgian administrator, she was thrust into Europe’s prestigious galleries, only to face systematic erasure of her identity and artistic autonomy. Through vibrant watercolors, she seamlessly merged Congolese traditions with modernist sensibilities, challenging gender prejudices, colonial expectations, and artistic conventions. Her unique visual language spoke of resilience and cultural pride, earning her international recognition. Her meteoric rise in the art world came to an abrupt end in the 1930s when her art supplies were suddenly cut off—a stark reminder of how easily artistic voices could be silenced. Here, finally, is her story…