Pax Rwanda: Embroideries of the Women of Savane Kabuye is a traveling exhibition of collaborative textile works created by Rwandan women living in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsis. Coming from different sides of the conflict, these artists chose cooperation over division, using the shared act of embroidery as a means of healing, reconciliation, and hope for future generations. The exhibition will be on display in the Mary Anderson Gallery at Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality from April 23- May 22, 2026.
The collective began as a modest workshop in Rutongo, in the hills above Kigali, founded by Christiane Rwagatare, a native Rwandan whose life reflects the country’s turbulent history. As a young woman, Christiane and her family fled Rwanda during years of unrest and lived in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. She later studied in Romania, earning a degree in business, and there began learning European embroidery. Her professional experience in the German fashion industry further shaped her artistic sensibility. When she returned to Rwanda in 1994 in the aftermath of the genocide, Christiane was determined to contribute to her country’s reconstruction by creating dignified, sustainable work for women. She envisioned a workshop that would move beyond small decorative linens to create ambitious, large-scale textile artworks of lasting cultural and economic value. Sadly, Christiane passed away suddenly last year, but her legacy will live on in the hearts of many.
From an initial gathering of nearly one hundred interested women, Christiane selected a small group of the most skilled artisans and trained them in a distinctive, collaborative approach to embroidery. In Rutongo, the group developed the techniques and visual language that now define the Pax Rwanda collection—works that would ultimately be recognized at the national level and exhibited in Rwanda’s National Art Gallery.
Because each piece is created collectively, artists chose to sign their embroideries as a group rather than individually. As the workshop evolved and relocated, the signatures Savane Rutongo, Savane Kabuye, and Savane Kigali came into use, documenting the history and geography of the collective. Together, these names reflect the living, adaptive nature of the workshop and the shared authorship at the heart of the work.
The exhibition is curated by Juliana Meehan, an American educator whose background in English literature and anthropology shaped her immediate recognition of the embroideries’ artistic and cultural significance. After encountering the works in Christiane’s in 2010, Meehan committed herself to bringing the story and artistry of these women to audiences in the United States. Through sustained collaboration with Christiane, she has helped support the workshop by purchasing works at fair prices and organizing exhibitions in museums and galleries across the country.
Pax Rwanda: Embroideries of the Women of Savane Kabuye situates the embroideries of Savane Kabuye within a broader narrative of Rwanda’s ongoing reconstruction and reconciliation. These works stand as acts of collective memory and quiet testimony, affirming art as a means of livelihood, resilience, and the enduring pursuit of peace.
Exhibition Dates:
April 23 – May 22, 2026
Mary Anderson Gallery at Mount Saint Francis
101 St Anthony Dr, Mt St Francis, IN 47146
Gallery Hours:
Sundays: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesdays: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursdays: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Fridays: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Opening Reception:
April 23 | 6:30 pm
Artist Talk:
May 22 | 6:30 pm
Exhibition Dates:
April 23 – May 22, 2026
Mary Anderson Gallery at Mount Saint Francis
101 St Anthony Dr, Mt St Francis, IN 47146
Gallery Hours:
Sundays: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesdays: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursdays: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Fridays: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Opening Reception:
April 23 | 6:30 pm
Artist Talk:
May 22 | 6:30 pm
