Click on any page to see it full size. Scroll down for a complete list of Artists included in this edition as well directories of Galleries/Cultural Centres.
Forward to The Kenya Arts Diary 2016
Since its inception in 2011, the Kenya Arts Diary has been committed to showcasing up- and – coming young Kenyan artists. We’ve always included a few established artists as well. But our goal has never been to represent the leading local luminaries of the contemporary East African art world. We feel we have a more ‘prophetic’ role to play in selecting young artists who we see having a bright future. This year we’ve been excited to find so many promising artists showing their work online, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Their art may not have reached local galleries but they all have substantial followings online which is both local and international. At the same time, we are grateful to the local art centres and galleries that have also sought out new talents even as they’ve shown more seasoned painters, sculptors and installation artists. Either way, we all must agree that we are witnessing an amazing moment in Kenyan culture when the contemporary visual arts are thriving as never before. The public, both local and global, are gaining greater understanding and appreciation of what Kenyan artists are trying to do. Personally, we feel the visual arts are flourishing in the region and we are happy to have played a small curatorial role in raising awareness of the immense artistic potential existing right under our nose and which can no longer be ignored.
Many thanks for all your support from the Kenya Arts Diary team, including Nani Croze, the Diary’s founder mother, and all her foot soldiers – Margaretta wa Gacheru, Diana Maigwa, Lyne Were and Dr. Eric Krystal who has been of immense moral support to us this year. The publishing team at Kul Graphics has also played a critical role ensuring the Diary comes out looking professional, beautiful and colorfully appealing. We also wish to acknowledge the passing this year of two very special young Kenyan artists, George ‘Ashif’ Malamba and Omosh Kindeh aka Eric Omondi, who will be sorely missed but who both have left a rich legacy in their art which will continue to inspire future generations of Kenyans and international ‘creatives’ as well.
Asante sana tena for your support of the Diary.
Nani, Eric, Margaretta, Diana and Lyne
September 2015
#Galleries/CulturalCentres2016
Art Galleries
African Heritage House, Mombasa Rd.
Banana Hill Art Gallery, Limuru Rd
Bobea Art Centre, Donholm, Nairobi
Bonzo Art Gallery, Ngong Rd, Nairobi
Circle Art Agency, Lavington
Diani Beach Art Gallery, Mombasa Diani Beach Shopping Centre
Edward Orato Arts, Nairobi Hwy, Kisumu
GoDown Arts Centre, Dunga Rd. Industrial Area, Nairobi
Johann Art Models, Kisumu
Kisumu Art House
Kisumu Cultural Forum
Kitengela Glass & Research Trust
Kuona Trust, Likoni Close, Hurlingham
The Little Gallery 128 Nandi Rd Karen
Lisa Christoffersen’s Home Gallery, Runda
Little Art Gallery, Kisumu
Maasai Mbili Art Centre
Matbronze Wildlife Art, Langata
Mechthild Gallery at Kitengela Glass & Research Trust
MurumbiCollections
My Eye Gallery/Alilamu, Shela, Lamu
Nairobi Art Centre, James Gichuru Rd, Lavington
Nairobi Gallery, Old PC’s Office, Kenyatta Aye, CBD
Nairobi Museum Gallery, Museum Hill
Ngecha Art Centre, off Limuru Rd,
Ngecha, Kiarnbu do King Dodge
Ngecha Art Gallery, off Limuru Rd, Ngecha
One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Rosslyn Lone Tree, Gigiri
Paa ya Paa Arts Centre, Paa Ya Paa Lane, Ridgeways
PAWA 254, off State House Crescent, Nairobi
Photizo Gallery,Valley Arcade;
Pimbi Gallery, Lavington
Dust Depo Artists Studio
Railway Museum Art Gallery
Red Hill Art Gallery, Limuru
Roots Space, Lower Kabete Rd.
Sane Wadu Arts Trust, Naivasha
Shifteye Gallery, Argwings Kodak Rd.
Studio Victor Nyambok, Kisumu
Tazama Galleries, Nairobi
Wildebeeste Workshops, Lamu
Tribal Gallery, Loresho Ridge, 161 Green Gate
Cultural Centres
African Heritage House Mombasa Rd
Alliance Francaise, Nairobi Loita St, CBD
Alliance Francaise de Kisumu
Alliance Francaise de Eldoret
Alliance Francaise de Mombasa
British Council Upper Hill
Cultural Council of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Embassy of Mexico
GoDown Arts Centre Dunga Rd, Industrial Area
Goethe Institute Monrovia St, CBD
Italian Institute of Culture Grenadier Tower, 6th floor Westlands
Japan Information & Culture Centre Mara Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi
Karen Blixen Museum Karen
Kuona Trust Likoni Close, Hurlingham
Michael Joseph Centre, Waiyaki Way
National Museums of Kenya Museum Hill
Sarakasi Trust Ngara Rd, Ngara
TARA Trust for African Rock Art Warai South Rd, Karen
The Hub, art & entrepreneurship training centre, Waiyaki Way, Westlands
Restaurant Galleries
Dan Restaurant, St Christopher’s Rd, Karen
Le Rustique Restaurant, General Mathenge Dr, Westlands
Purdy Arms Gallery, Karen
Que Pasa, Karen
Talisman Restaurant, Ngong Rd, Karen
#Artist2016
Index of Featured Artists
Artists are listed by the first day of the week on which they appear, e.g. Blouri, Maral January 5. Artists appearing outside of the calendar section are listed as ‘front of book’ and ‘back of book’.
Adam Masava Dec/ Jan 2015
Alex Wainaina January 4
Alexandra Spyratos Front of book
Alfred Mwaengo January 11
Andrew Mwini January 18
Anne Mwariri January 25
Anne Ntinyari Mwiti Front of book
Anthony Muya February 1
Anthony Wanjau Back of Book
Ashif Malamba RIP tribute
Peter Ngugi October 17
Churchil Ongere February 8
David Thuku February 15
Duncan Odeny February 22
Elias Mungora February 29
Elijah Mutua March 7
Elijah Ogira March 14
Elijah Ooko March 21
Erick Ayoti March 28
Evans Mbugua April 4
Expedito Mwebe April 11
Frances Simpson April 18
Fred Abuga April 25
George Omare May 2
Gilbert Ouma May 9
Gloria Muthoka Front of book
Gomba Otieno May 16
Guys Combes Back of book
Jackson Wanjau May23
James Mbuthia Front of book
Jeffie Magina May30
Jessica Atieno June 6
John Kariuki June 13
John Njuguna June 20
John Silver Kimani June27
Kennedy Kinyua July 4
Kepha Mosoti July11
Kevin Barasa July 18
Kevin Irungu July25
Kota Otieno August 1
Leena Shah August 8
Lia Berhne Back of book
Mary Ogembo August 15
Michael Angelo August 22
Mike Wafula August 29
Moses Muigai September 5
Mugambi Nthiga Back of book
Nadia Wamunyu Front of book
Nduta Kariuki September 12
Neha Manoj Shah September 19
Nicholas Odhiambo September 26
Nuru Bahati October 3
Onesmus Okamar October 10
Omosh Kindeh RIP tribute
Peter Ngugi October 17
Peter WaIala October 24
Rahab Shine October31
Ranjiv Singh November 7
Robin Mbera November 14
Rose Ahoro November 21
Seth Sketcher Odhiambo November28
Stephen Njenga Front of book
Teddy Mwae December 5
Vashali Morjaria December 12
Victor Opiyo Residency awardee
Peter Ngugi October 17
Wambui Wamaw Kamiru Front of book
Wanjiru Naisenya December 19
Waweru Gichuhi December 26
Willie Wambugu Back of book
©Kenya Arts Diary Group –All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any for or by any means, electronic or mechanical or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner
To learn more about new and upcoming books about East Africa’s Art Community Click Here. If you are an artist of the East African Art Community and interested in Artists Call For Entries Click Here.