SCARLETMOTIFF (Noel Apitta) is an artist from Kampala, Uganda.
Anchored by a background in Electrical Engineering, his work incorporates threads from music production, creative coding, graphic design, and scenography for live entertainment.
Through a practice centered on iteration, repetition, and spontaneous composition he seeks to convert the rich analog narratives of human experiences into digital expressions, blending real-time generative computer graphics and original soundscapes to create abstracted vignettes of directed emotion.
Between 2020 and 2024, this iterative approach birthed 1628 unique web-native video artworks as part of the daily audio-visual project GENERATIVE DREAMS; seeing his practice evolve to explore light and its relationship to physical space as a medium for immersive journey-making.
Now, his practice is in transition; moving from the infinite undo of the digital canvas to a more hybrid and tactile approach incorporating kinetic sculpture, video, procedural graphics, sound and physical computing.
From video sculpture and immersive projection mapping to interactive audio-visual installations, his work has been exhibited at the Coventry Biennial (2025-2026), Indonesia Bertutur (2024), DENVER DIGERATI (2024), the Noor Riyadh Light Art Festival Riyadh (2022), Afri Art Gallery Kampala (2024,2022), and Afropocene StudioLab Kampala (2024,2023).
In 2024, SCARLETMOTIFF was the Prohelvetia Artist in Residence at L'Abri Geneva, Switzerland.
Since 2023, he has been an artist in residence at the Afropocene StudioLab
EDUCATION
YouTube Distributed Academies for the Dark Art of Everything The Internet [Ongoing]
BSc. Electrical Engineering Makerere University Kampala, UG [2020]
EXHIBITIONS
Obsessions, Possesions Featured Coventry Biennial, Coventry,UK [2025-26]
In Transit Under Another Sky Featured The Africa Centre, London, UK [2025]
RESPIRATIONS Featured A.B.R.A.C.A, Bergesserin, FR [2024]
FORTRESS OF BLOOM Open Studio L'Abri Genéve, Geneva, CH [2024]
DENVER DIGERATI: SILENT SCREEN Featured Denver, CO, USA [2024]
Indonesia Bertutur 2024: KIRANAMAYA Featured Bali, ID [2024]
In Transit Under Another Sky Group Exhibition Kampala, UG // Nairobi, KE [2024]
Festa das Luzes de Joinville Featured Joinville, BZ [2024]
PROOF OF WORK Group Exhibition Afropocene StudioLab, Kampala, UG [2023]
We Dream of New Horizons Noor Riyadh Light Art Festival Featured Riyadh Art, Riyadh, KSA [2022]
PORTALS Solo Afri Art Gallery, Kampala, UG [2022]
BuzzFest Tech Art Festival Featured Austin, TX, USA [2022]
NeoShibuya TV 15 Second Museum Featured Tokyo, JP [2021]
Creative Code Festival Featured Lightbox NYC, NYC, USA [2020]
RESIDENCIES
Diriyah Art Futures Emerging Artist Program Residency Riyadh, KSA [2025-present]
Prohelvetia Artist In Residence at L'Abri Genève Residency Geneva, CH [2024]
Moving Image East Africa Workshop British Council, Kampala, UG [2024]
African XR Realities Workshop Electric South/Meta, Cape Town, SA [2023]
Afropocene StudioLab Workshop Kampala, UG (2023-Present]
Electric South New Dimensions Lab 5 Workshop Cape Town, SA (2022]
PUBLICATIONS
Noor Riyadh : A New Visual Culture [2024] — ASSOULINE
STAGE + VISUAL
MoRoots: A Concert From The Sun Scenography / Visuals Kampala, UG [2019]
CTRL AD Presents: LISTEN Scenography / Visuals Kampala, UG [2018]
TALKS + SELECTED PRESS
Yinka Shonibare Foundation Article From Kampala to Nairobi ‘in transit under another sky’ explores creative practice across borders [2024]
STIRWorld Article Exploring the digital arts practice of retro-inspired artist and musician, Noel Apitta [2021]
Touchdesigner InSession Showcase / Interview TouchDesigner InSession with Noel Apitta [2021]
theFound Article Noel Apitta | a self-taught creative technologist and audio-visual artist [2021]