It’s been a few weeks and the art world keeps going… We rounded up what’s on this week so you don’t miss out on any exhibitions!
OPENING
Fragments of Home | Romeo Niyigena | SenaArt Gallery X Under the Swahili Tree | Opening reception Tuesday 21 January, 6 – 8pm | Through February
Niyigena is an emerging artist from Kigali, Rwanda. His works primarily encompass oils & acrylics on canvas through which he exploes the theme of diversity, a profound source of inspiration for him. His work is deeply influenced by cultures he has encoutered across Africa. Each of Niyigena’s creations is imbued with poetic expression, weaving a unique narrative or symbolism, inviting the viewer to dive deeper.
There will be an online Artist Talk on Saturday 25 January from 2 -4pm. Please use the Google Meet Link
Fetlework Tadesse – Embrace
New Visions: Six Artists | Circle Art Gallery | Opening 22 January, 6-8 pm | Until 27 February
Circle debuts six new artists in the gallery to start the programme for the new year. “One of the best parts of our job as a gallery is finding new artists whose work we fall in love with, who we would like to work with and that we think our audience will appreciate.” For Circle Gallery’s first exhibition of 2025, they will share a selection of six artists from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania who they are excited to exhibit:
Pamela Enyonu
Ethel Aanyu
Fetlework Tadesse
Birhane Worede
Sandra Wauye
Liberatha Alibalio
Troubled Neighbours | Simon Muriithi | One Off Gallery | Opening Saturday 25 January 2 – 5pm
The year opens with a quiet though masterful print show produced by veteran printmaker, Simon Muriithi. Very few printmakers in the region continue to produce etchings and almost no one embosses them. This is Muriithi’s preferred medium and the result is a series of truly sublime works. Often the animals and birds are the stars of the show but Muriithi includes some humans in his investigation of the ‘Troubled Neighbours’ who struggle to co-exist and survive with dignity.
One Off Gallery, 28 Rosslyn Lone Tree Estate Road | www.oneoffcontemporaryartgallery.com
They Don’t Look Like Me | Niccolò Rastrelli | Italian Cultural Institute x Noir Gallery | Opening 23 January 6:30pm | Until 28 January
“THEY DON’T LOOK LIKE ME” is a photographic project composed of a series of portraits of cosplayers together with their parents, whose intent is to reflect on the theme of individuality through the world of cosplay. The photos have been shot in Kenya.
Visions | رؤى” | Group Exhibition | Kemet Arts Gallery | Opening Saturday 25 January, 2 – 7pm| Until 31 January
Visions | رؤى” | Group Exhibition | Kemet Arts Gallery | Opening Saturday 25 January, 2 – 7pm| Until 31 JanuaryVisions | رؤى”, an art exhibition showcasing the works of three prominent Sudanese contemporary artists, in partnership with @ourheritageoursudan
– Yassir Ali @@art.yassir
– Baharaddin Adam @baharaddin.arts
– Dr. Abdelrahman Shangal @shangal_hassan_
These visionary artists have played a pivotal role in shaping the Sudanese fine art scene, each bringing a unique perspective that bridges tradition and modernity. Their work reflects Sudan’s rich cultural heritage while addressing themes of identity, resilience, and transformation.
*Free Entry – Registration required.
Please register through our website or the link bio.
Kemet Arts Gallery, 732A Tabere Crescent
Group Exhibition | The Artists Palette, Karen Village | Opening 25 January | 9am – 5pm
Including artists: Meek Gichugu , Michael Musyoka , Musah Mwakelemu & Nedia Were
ONE OFF EVENTS
Sahej Rahal | Untitled (from The Book of Missing Pages), 2018- 2023 | Mixed media on paper
Event: Myth Making Workshop ft. ‘The Book of Missing Pages’ | NCAI | 25 January
Stay tuned to iN Nairobi and NCAI for further details.
Studio 18 Open Studio | Kuona Artists Collective | Saturday 25 January | 2 – 8pm
Join the Kuona Artists for an open studio with the opportunity to see the artwork of a number of artists & have a chat with them. 4 -5 pm will be the panel talk with the topic “The Future of Fashion in Kenya: Past, Present & Future of the Nairobi Fashion Space” and DJs to round it all off. RSVP Required! @kuonaartistscollective
ONGOING EXHIBITIONS
Urban Shelters | James Kamende | Red Hill Art Gallery | Until 2 March
Red Hill Art Gallery, off St. Julian’s Road, Gatatha Rd, RedHill www.redhillartgallery.com
Two Worlds, One Gallery | Ardhi Gallery | EXTENDED until 24 January
Ardhi Gallery invites you to explore the beauty of duality with their latest exhibition. Step into a space where diverse froms of artistic expression collide and complement, offering a truly immersive experience.
Curator’s Pick: Explore an exquisite collection of the curator’s handpicked favorites. These works showcase bold creativity, emotional depth, and the diverse perspectives of contemporary artists. Each piece tells a story, offering a glimpse into the heart of modern artistry.
Virtual Reality: Kenyan Heritage Reimagined: Journey into the rich tapestry of Kenya’s heritage through cutting-edge VR installations. Immerse yourself in dynamic, 3D renditions of cultural landmarks, traditions, and history. It’s an interactive experience that bridges the gap between past and future.
Ardhi Gallery, Ole Sangale Link Rd. @ardhigallery
Patterns of Beauty | Angela Fischer & Carol Beckwith | Tribal Gallery | Until 24 January
Fischer and Beckwith have been photographing the rituals and ceremonies of Africa for over 45 years. Today over 40% of rituals and ceremonies that they have photographed no longer exist.
Transformations: New Perspectives | Group Exhibition | TewasArt | Village Market Extension Gallery | Sunday 12 – Tuesday 28 January
A group exhibition exploring modern painting styles and narratives founded on rich and diverse African cultural backgrounds and themes including identity, portraiture, figuration, urbanization and landscapes, captured meticulously by Ethiopian, Kenyan, Sudanese, Ugandan and Nigerian contemporary artists.
Emerging Echoes | Alliance Française | Until 31 January
An exhibition featuing the work of 19 emerging artists based at Uweza Gallery, Kibera.
Lamu’s Best | Stephen Ndung’u Lance | Nairobi National Museum, Creativity Gallery | Opening 6 December | Until 31 January 2025
Discover the captivating artistry of Stephen Ndung’u Lance, a renowned Kenyan painter whose work celebrates the beauty and heritage of Swahili culture. Born into a family of artists, Stephen has mastered the art of storytelling through his vibrant paintings and intricate three-dimensional creations.
The Book of Missing Pages | Sahej Rahal
Wayfinder: Sahej Rahal | NCAI | Until 01 March 2025
Wayfinder welcomes viewers into Rahal’s world, where myth, narrative, imagination, and technology intertwine to challenge conventional understandings of reality and encourage them to participate actively in Rahal’s ever-expanding cosmology. Rahal’s practice comprises a journey through evolving mythologies that span sculpture, performance, video, and digital media.
Wayfinder will feature two major video works shown alongside a selection of drawings from The Book of Missing Pages (2018-2023) and three new sculptural works. Distributed Mind Test (2023) is a multiplayer video game where players become fractured impulses of thought embodied within a young non-human creature navigating a world engulfed in perpetual night following an unknown cataclysmic event that has exhausted all human life. Anhad (2023) is an interactive AI simulation where viewers encounter an AI-controlled entity whose limbs carry recorded notes of Hindustani music, which emanate as they wander a digital forest, receiving audio input from the physical world to generate an infinite song.
Nairobi Contemporary Arts Institute (NCAI), Rosslyn Riviera Mall, Limuru Rd. @ncai254
Figurative Figures | Kuda Kagudu, Clinton Artisto & Sir_jeey | HOF Gallery | Until 2 February
The new year brings a new exhibition to the HOF Gallery Kibera in the Kibera Arts District. This one has a short run of one month it for sure will be worth a visit. For any information, feel free to contact: 0741443678