We’ve consolidated the new shows about to open and the shows that are up and running into one list for you here…
ROWS AND COLUMNS | Baraka Shamia
Rows and Columns 2024 – Baraka Shamia
Until 19 May
In this exhibition Shamia depicts figures, which are not clearly human. He states that the Scarecrow is a major guiding visual. He describes the studied experience of a Scarecrow, embodying a dance fueled by winds and rain.He explores the evolution of the significance of this image of man, the aspect of a boundary between man and nature and to whom the power to decide and cross boundaries lies. The works examine the relationship between people and the natural environment and the urge of man to rearrange, domesticate and commercialise nature. The pieces explore the geometry and uniformity that results from man’s encroachment on nature.
One-Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Rosslyn Lone Tree. www.oneoffafrica.com
(UN)CONTAINED TURBULENCE | Shabu Mwangi
ANECDOTE OF SOUNDNESS | Maggie Otieno
LIFE IS A JOURNEY | Ruth Nyakundi
Ruth’s Roots 2004
10 April – 5 May
Nyakundi’s painting is concerned with cultural and personal identity. She emphasizes that we are not makers of history, we made history, stating: “You cannot build a cultural identity without the image and sounds of your culture. You are entitled to explore and embrace your culture identity no matter where you are starting from. Going back to our roots and remembering the humble background one comes from is an antidote to hubris. This keeps us firmly rooted and grounded”.
Nairobi National Museum, Creativity Gallery @nationalartgalleryofkenya
CREATIVE INNOVATION HERITAGE, Exploring the creative mind | Leonard Kateete
Art by Leonard Kateete, courtesy @nationalartgalleryofkenya
13 April – 31 May
Nairobi National Museum, Creativity Gallery @nationalartgalleryofkenya
DISCOVERING AFRICA: A KENYAN PERSPECTIVE | Various artists
Image credit: @bananahillartgallery
Until 26 April
Immerse yourself in the beauty and richness of Africa. Let the artworks transport you to the heart of Kenya and beyond, where you can experience the magic and wonder of Africa’s landscapes, wildlife, and people.
Banana Hill Art Gallery, Banana Hill | www.bananahillgallery.com @bananahillartgallery
THE LAW OF STRANGE FACES – JOURNEYS OF ADAPTATION, (DIS-)CONNECTION AND RENEWAL | Elhassan Elmuontasir
Opening event April 26, 6-10pm. RSVP required: 0713825250. Only RSVP guest list admitted.
Show runs until 16 May.
Rooted in portraiture, experimental works and installations, Elmuontasir’s work transcends social and political boundaries, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of contemporary life.
Tribal Gallery, Loresho Ridge.
METALLUM VISIONS | She’Rustica
Fronds of the Wall by She’Rustica
27 April – 4 May
Immerse yourself in a world where metal whispers secrets and sculptures come alive. A mesmerizing solo art exhibition that defies convention and ignites your imagination.
254 Brewing Co. Taproom, Nderi Road,Kikuyu
ENDEMIC | Kadallah Burrowes & Anansi Revolutionary Collective
Image credit: @kadallah_
19 April – 5 May, Wednesdays through to Sunday from 12 -6pm.
Through a fusion of multimedia experiences, Endemic looks at an ongoing apocalypse, where feelings of helplessness, rage and angst collide in a cacophony of artistic expression. From the fringes of a technological singularity to the commercialization and erasure of spirituality, each piece serves as a pointer to the crises we face, their interconnectedness and the urgency of awakening to them.
Munyu Space, Basement, The Mall, Westlands
OLIDDE MUPIPA | Xenson
Untitled Series – Xenson 2019
Until 13 July
Xenson (Samson Ssenkaaba, b. 1978) is a Kampala-based multimedia artist. ‘Olidde mupipa’ (Luganda) is an idiomatic expression that translates to ‘you have eaten from the barrel (the dustbin)’. The phrase implies that one has arrived too late for something, that they have to make do with leftovers. More specifically, the expression refers to the steel drums, which are often sold and repurposed. In his practice, Xenson has adopted these steel barrels, and their offshoots, as a support for painting and as building blocks for the sculptures and installations that make up this exhibition.
NCAI (Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute), Rosslyn Riviera. www.ncai254.com
LOCAL CONVERSATIONS (LUGHA YA MTAANI) | Richard Kimathi
Here it From a Friend – Richard Kimathi
Until 19 May
Based in Nairobi, Kimathi’s work is confident in line, composition and colour; profound in expression; elegant in its simplicity and honesty; and camouflaged in a caricature-like reductionism rendering a deep and movingly empathetic portrayal of the circumstances of the common Kenyan: the suffering, dignified always, heroic even and without self-pity, privately worn and stoically bourne, as if simply the price of life; patient but, in the compassionate brushwork of the artist, transitory and redeemable. This sensitivity permeates the entire body of his work.
One-Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Rosslyn Lone Tree. www.oneoffafrica.com
DELICATE DENSITIES | Boniface Maina
Boniface Maina courtesy of Red Hill Art
Show extended until 12 May
The body of work delves into the intricate interplay between isolation and captivity, escape and freedom and responsibility, calmness and chaos, and the myriad choices that shape our daily lives. The artist skillfully applies diverse mediums to craft the final expression, ink and bleach drawings on paper and carving and painting on wooden plates, creating a three-dimensional, relief like designed surface. At its core, the endeavor is centered on crafting pieces that strike an ideal equilibrium between form and resilience, encapsulating a harmonious balance of density and strength.
Red Hill Art Gallery, off St. Julian’s Rd., Gatatha Rd, Red Hill www.redhillartgallery.com
IN THE BEGINNING – Onyis Martin
Image @onyismartin
Until 11 May 2024
A multi-disciplinary artist experimenting with a wide range of materials, Martin’s paintings, drawings and sculptures explore the human condition and the global geopolitical interface, specifically through issues surrounding human trafficking, migration, corruption and displacement. Additionally, he explores matters surrounding communication, the rapidly changing technological environment and the consumerism that surrounds it.
The African Arts Trust, Victoria Square, Riara Rd. www.theafricanartstrust.org
MABAKI – Adlan Yousif
Rusty Souls’s Voyage – Adlan Yousif
Coming from the war zones of Darfur, Yousif was influenced by many scenes of oppression. Like many who grew up in the Darfur region, he saw iron as a material much used for destruction and turned it around to tell stories inspired by war-torn regions and societies. His vision leads to the implementation of sculptural projects, with scrap metal as the basic material allowing the expression of this real tragedy, and the transformation of this hard, rusty and cold material into expressive and poetic poems with a heightened sense of drama.
HOF Gallery in the Kibera Arts District | https://houseoffriendskenya.com/hofgallery
LIFE SIZE | Peter Elungat, Olga Tapiola, Anita Naseer, Lily Dolce and Julia Benz
Until 31 July
Ardhi’s Mentorship program, in collaboration with Peter Elungat, kicks off with this life-sized art exhibition. The two-week accelerator program will focus on various cohorts of female emerging artists entering the program and exhibiting monthly until July 31st.
Parallel Four Hostels Building, Entrance through Adreno’s Bistro, Ole-Sangale Link Rd. www.ardhigallery.com