Creative in Kigali

The upspoken secret of creatives

I have an affinity for people that make bold life pivots. 

Meet Winnie Kalisa.

I was introduced to Winnie last year by a friend in Rwanda. She’s an esteemed creative, the founder of ceramics studio Laini Studio.

The house and grounds of Laini Studio are idyllic, a quiet gem tucked above a main road in Kigali. I love the story of how Winnie found this place. 

Beauty finds beauty. And beauty creates more beauty.

Tall and gentle in her smile and words, she spent a decade in the fashion industry—in front of the camera and behind it. When she thinks of those days, it’s so removed that it feels like someone else’s life.

She honed her pottery making skills during COVID with techniques found on YouTube.

Lanai Studio (Instagram) is now a center for creatives—offering classes for novices, residencies for artists, and an AirBnB for reflection.

In some ways, I can’t believe I’m sharing this secret. 

But of course, I need to share the community and art that Winnie has carefully molded.

As Winnie tours us through the studio, a friend and I admire a tray of interconnected serving dishes sitting on a counter off the glazing room.

“Is this for sale?” she asks.

“Oh, that was an attempt for a piece I was designing for a new restaurant,” says Winnie. “It didn’t work as I planned. When I look at it, all I see are the imperfections.”

I would have bought it for that response alone. But I knew my friend would. Both of us only saw perfection.

I thought of all the times my husband has asked me to refrain from pointing out imperfections when touring friends through our home. I don’t realize I’m doing it.

Winnie, I get you.

We wander on. Winnie openly shares her techniques and personal stories.

“Sometimes, I’m just done. It’s hard. I’m wondering what I’m even doing. But there’s a community we’ve built around this. When I see people here, it reminds me why I do this.”

Her words pierce me. So much that I pull out my phone to write them down.

Again, Winnie, I get you.

I feel this often. But like you, I rarely say it out loud.

It is paradox of being a creative. 

Your work is personal. You don’t “leave it at the office.” You have a tireless pursuit of creating the unique. Sometimes it’s misunderstood. Or under-appreciated. 

But those people that see it—who become that special community?

It’s everything. It’s your why. You can’t stop.

So meet Winnie. You can visit her at Laini Studio in Kigali, Rwanda (www.laini-studio.com)

And to my creatives of all kind…keep going. 

Winnie and I see you.

Want to learn about more creatives in Kigali? Here’s a great article. Inspired to connect to them personally? Join me in Venture Travel. We connect to people and their stories. When you travel differently, you think differently.