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.
Foreword to the fourth Kenya Arts Diary
What you hold in your hands is the fourth edition of the Kenya Arts Diary. We are excited to have got so far! Our initial goal, together with making art accessible to people who may not have considered themselves art lovers, was to create a fund to help support young artists. By 2013 assets had built up enough to enable the launch of the long-awaited Kenya Arts Gallery Residence Award (KADRA).
To make up for the late start, not one but two talented young artists were our 2013 recipients. Mike Kyalo of Nairobi spent his residency at Kuona Trust, and Ezra Joab, who comes from Vihiga, near Kisumu, spent his at Kitengela Glass. Kenya Arts Diary covered the cost of one month’s accommodation, meals and pocket money for both artists, and paid for art materials and transport.
Networking was a valuable by-product of the awards as artists from Kuona travelled to Kitengela Glass to see Ezra’s work and the whole establishment. For logistical reasons, Ezra did not participate in the end-of-residency exhibition at Kuona Trust, though he got another chance later to showcase his work. We hope both artists reap the fruit of their experience as the grow as art professionals.
As before, the 2014 Kenya Arts Diary was put together by a team of volunteers. We owe a debt of gratitude to Margaretta wa Gacheru who did most of the work identifying and contacting artists, spotting new talent, and laboring behind the scenes to get KADRA off the ground. She was aided by Donna Pido, Judy Ogana of GoDown Arts Centre and Nani Croze
For the images that bring this book to life, we have to thank most of all enthusiastic amateur photographer Qi Lin, who gave up hours of his weekdays and weekends to meet artists abd shoot their work. Other photographers to thank are the extreme capable Sylvia Gichia of Kuona Trust, aided by Anthony Wachira, also Kuona, among others.
Once again, Peta Meyer of Tara Consultants played her role as conductor of this wayward rchestra, along with being the editor and designer of the publication. Without her, the diary would certainly not have got off the ground. Thank you Peta!
Since the Kenya Arts Diary started in 2011, the art scene in Kenya has grown by leaps and bounds. It is an exciting time to ne an artist in Kenya, and we are glad to have played our small part in this growth by bringing art and artists to the public eye. If you would like to join us in this, please get in touch as new blood to aid our venture would be very welcome.
Nani Croze
The Kenya Arts Diary Group
Kitengela Group
Kitengela Glass Research and Training Trust
#Galleries/CulturalCentres2014
Art Galleries
Banana Hill Art Gallery, Off Limuru Rd
Bobea Art Centre, Nairobi
Bonzo Art Gallery, Nairobi.
Circel Art Agency, Lavington, Nairobi
Diani Beach Art Gallery, Diani Beach Shopping Centre
Edward Orato Arts, Kisumu
GoDown Arts Centre, Dunga Rd, Industrial Area
Johann Art Models, Kisumu
Kisumu Art House
Kisumu Cultural Forum
Kitengela Glass Gallery
Kuona Trust, Likoni Close, Hurligham
Lily Pond, Nanyuki
Lisa Christoffersen’s Home Gallery, Runda
Little Art Gallery, Nairobi and Kisumu
Maasai Mbili Art Centre, Kibera Rd, Kibera
Matbronze Wildlife Art, Langata
Mechthild Gallery at Kitengela Glass Studios
Murumbi Gallery, Kenya National Archives, Moi Ave, CBD
My Eye Gallery/ Ali Lamu, Shela – Lamu
Nairobi Art Centre, Lavington
Nairobi Gallery, Old PC’s Office, Kenyatta Ave, CND
Nairobi Museum Creativity Gallery
Ngecha Artist Association, Off Limuru Rd, Ngecha
One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Rosslyn Lone Tree, Gigiri
Paa ya Paa Arts Centre, Paa ya PaaLane, Ridgeways
Pimbi Gallery, Lavington
Pnii’sCoffee and Crafts, Parklands
Railway Museum Art Gallery
Red Hill Art Gallery, Limuru
Roots Space, Nairobi
Sane Art Centre, Naivasha
Shifteye Gallery, Hurlighum
Studio Victor Nyambok, Kisumu
Tazama Galleries, Nairobi
Wallartz rt Gallery, Ngong Road, Nairobi
Wildebeeste Workshop, Lamu
Yamogo rt project, Muchatha
Zingira Nyanza
Cultural Centres
African Heritage House, Mombasa Rd
Alliance Francaise, Loita St, CBD
British Council, Upper Hill
GoDown Arts Centre, Dunga Rd, Industrial Area
Goethe-institute, Monrovia St, CBD
Italian Institute, Grenadier Tower, Westlands, Westlands
Karen Bixen Museum, Karen
Kuona Trust, Likoni Close, Hurligham
Michael Joseph Centre, Waiyaki way
National Museums of Kenya, Museum Hill
Sarakasi Trust, Ngara Rd, Ngara
Restaurant Gallaries
Le Rustique Restaurant, General Mathenge Dr,Westands
Talisman Restaurant, Ngong Rd, Karen
#Artist2014
Index of Featured Artists
Artists are listed by the first day of the week on which they appear, e.g Abbakar, Hassan Fadul January 13. Artists appearing outside of the calendar section are listed ‘front of the book’
Abbakar, Hassan FadulJanuary 20
Ahmed, Abushaariaa front of book
Ammar, Sala July 7
Bertiers, Joseph January 6
Binge, Victor Dec/ Jan 2014
Dawalbeit, Eltayeb August 4
Dumbelton, Sue May 19
Earshaw, Moyra January13
Ekube, Ermias front of book
Elungat, Peter December 8
Garang, Lionel December 15
Jeffah, Nur September 1
Karibu, Cyrus December 22
Kaigwa, Gakunju November 17
Kaloki, Dickson April 7
Kamwathi, Peterson December 1
Karuri, Ras Githaka November 24
Kasambeko, Paul January 27
Kichapi, Ehoodi November 10
Kimathi, Richard May 5
Kindeh, Omosh November 3
Kinuthia, Patrick September 15
Kwalanda, Edwin August 18
Kyalo, Mike March31
Malamba, Ashif George front book
Mang’ong’o, Sidney October 20
Maundu, Paul January 5, 2015
Mbera, Robin October 13
Mboya, Tom April 14
Mburu, Harrison July 14
Mbuthia, James June 23
Mohammed, Yassir Ali June2
Mukabi, Patrick front of book
Muraguri, Denis April 28
Muthoni, Maryann March 17
Muturi, Njee March 24
Mwangi, Shabu September 22
Ngugi, Peter October 27
Njenga, Edward September 8
Njoroge, Andrew March 10
Njuguna, Samuel March 3
Nyawanda, Moses front of book
Odongo, Emily August 25
Oiro, Meshack February 17
Okello, Anthony August 11
Omolo, Brian May 26
Onditi, Paul July 28
Opondo, Wycliffe February 24
Otieno, Kota May 12
Qi Lin July 21
Rampelberg, Chelenge van front of book
Soi, Michael October 6
Suryavanshi, Poonam December 29
Uhuru B February 10
Waite, Yoni June 30
Wangui, Florence April 21
Wanjiku, Beatrice February 3
Wanjiru, Nadia June 16
Wekesa, Ian June 9
Wekesa, Camille September 29
Who’s who behind the Kenya Arts Diary 2014
The Kenya Arts Diary Group is a volunteer group af artists and art lovers who first got together in 2010 to publish this annual diary in order to promote Kenyan artists and their art. It is not-for-for profit group and proceeds from sales and advertising fund the Kenya Arts Diary Residency Award (KADRA) to support promising young artists with apprenticeships and residencies, working under established artists in Kenya.
The 2014 Kenya Arts Diary Group comprised
Kul Bhakoo, Nani Croze, Margaretta wa Gacheru, Sylvia Gichia, Diana Maigwa, Peta Meyer, Judy Ogana, Donna Pido.
Coordination, editing and design by Peta Meyer af Tara Consultants. Photography by Qi Lin, Sylvia Gicia, Anthony Wachira and Margaretta wa Gacheru, with additional images by Dominic Martin, James Muriuki, Aernout Zevenbergen and others. Logistics support provided by GoDown Arts Centre and Kuona Trust.
Artist biographies provided by the artists or artists’ representative or written by Peta Meyer, Donna Pido and Margaretta wa Gacheru, with thanks to Dr Eric Krystall for additional writing. Diana Maigwa took charge of advertising and retail distribution.
All artwork images featured in this publication are either original photographs taken for the exclusive use of the Kenya Arts Diary 2014, or digital images supplied by the artists or artists’ representative, and used here with the permission of the artist. We thank all the artists for the use of their images and their permission for reproduction. Contact details given for artists have been supplied by the artists or their representatives.
Published and printed by Kul Graphics Limited on behalf of the Kenya Arts Diary and Kitengela Glass Research and Training Trust.
©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.