It’s a busy weekend in the art world iN Nairobi! Scroll down to see whats opening & what’s still on…
ONE OFF EVENTS
Artist Meet & Greet/ Conversation with Romeo Niyigena | Under the Swahili Tree, Karen | Saturday 8 March | 10:30am – 3pm
An exclusive artistic hangout with Rwandese artist Romeo Niyigena in conjunction with his “Fragments of Home” exhibition currently on display at Under the Swahili Tree. Dive into his world of creativity, storytelling, and culture.
What to Expect?
🔸 Live Art Conversations
🔸 Cultural Exchange
🔸 Meet & Greet with the Artist
Ore & Alchemy | Ami Doshi Shah & Sunny Dolat | Lakehouse Tigoni | Saturday 8 March
Ore & Alchemy, a retrospective of a decade of image making, collaboration and the gift of the magical things that can happen when creatives trust one another – by Ami Doshi Shah & Sunny Dolat.
NEW EXHIBITIONS
Nairobi Design Week | The Waterfront Mall, Karen | 8 – 16 March | 9am -4pm
Join Nairobi Design Week in celebrating a decade of creativity! Nairobi Design Week 2025 is all about embracing our legacy under the theme “We Are the Ancestors.” We reflect on our past, shape our present, and inspire the future.
This theme encourages us to think about the legacy we are creating and the impact we have on future generations. It is a call to action for all designers, creatives, and artists, to contribute to a narrative that transcends time. By acknowledging our place in this continuum, we are urged to create responsibly and sustainably, ensuring that our work today becomes a source of inspiration and foundation for the future. @nairobidesign_
Installation view: Dicken Otieno, Shabu Mwangi, Austine Adika. Courtesy of Circle Art Gallery
A group show of new works by current artists | Circle Art Gallery | Through 17 April
Including works by Dickens Otieno, Sandra Wauye, Leo Mativo, James Kagima, Sammy Mutinda, Ethel Aanyu, Tiemar Tegene, Sanaad Shreef, Rasto Cyprian, Tabitha wa Thuku, Souad Abdelrassoul, Shabu Mwangi, Austine Adika.
Progression | Brush Tu Collective | Munyu Space | Through 22 March
This exhibition revisits the works created during the 2023 AiRBrush residency by artists Sherie Ngigi, Namikoye Wanjala, Leikun Nahusaney, Joseph Muturi, Terrence Musekiwa, and Naajah Harun, alongside curators Melanie Manosi and Jepkorir Rose, offering moment to reflect on progression, movement, the passage of time and memory.
New Wine in Old Skins: Artevara Art Exhibition | Chez Mahmadi | Opening launch Saturday 8 March | 3 – 6pm
A month-long celebration of creativity, featuring stunning works by Artevara Art. The exhibition runs throughout March 2025, with a special official launch on March 8th. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in art, meet the artists, and experience an evening of inspiration at the launch.
XX Chromosome Exhibition | Ardhi Gallery | Opening Reception 8 March | 2 – 4pm
In a world where women gracefully balance the demands of home and family, this exhibition stands as a vibrant testament to their resilience, passion, and transformative impact on art. Each piece on display weaves a narrative of empowerment and inspiration, celebrating the unique perspectives that only women can offer. Featuring the works of 13 exceptional female artists—of whom 5 have enriched our community through our mentorship program—this exhibition encapsulates the spirit of innovation and perseverance.
BEASTS & PETALS | Mwass Githinji | Red Hill Art Gallery | Opening Reception Sunday 9 March | 11am – 5pm
My art is rooted in a rich tapestry of African stories, world philosophies, and the influence of great artists from the past and present. It is a mirror to the complexities of the human spirit, unearthing the emotions we suppress and the untamed thoughts we dare not speak aloud. Vulnerability is at the heart of my work—exploring the fragility of our inner child and exposing the raw, unfiltered state of being. My canvases are fragments of us all, meant to be hung, observed, and discussed—whether in whispers or critical tones.
Sina Jina Collection | 2nd Edition | The African Arts Trust | Until 23 May
The exhibition’s focus this year is on the 2nd generation of Kenyan artists whose works are in the collection. The Sina Jina collection is a body of work collected by the founder of the African Arts Trust, Robert Devereux over the last 25 years.
Artwork: @aookello Anthony Okello,Herd Full of Dreams, 2020
Retribution | Baraka Shamia | One Off Gallery | Until 23 March
Baraka Shamia once again surprises and delights with some thought provoking figurative works complimented by beautiful abstract pieces. The artist leaves interpretation up to his audience but there is a distinct case to support the possibility of a strong commentary on the recent abductions and murders our country has been experiencing.
One Off Gallery, 28 Rosslyn Lone Tree Estate Road | www.oneoffcontemporaryartgallery.com
The Last Word | Timothy Brooke| One Off Gallery | Until 23 March
This is a show of the last paintings from Timothy Brooke’s studio. Jill, Timothy’s beloved wife, found these recently when she cleared out his studio. The pastel works are possibly studies for larger oils but the prize is the last oil. It is a diptych and is a summary of everything that Brooke became so well known for; motion, minimalism, sublime brushwork and a subtle colour sense. By the time Brooke passed away in 2022, he was justifiably considered one of the leading ‘conservation artists’ on the continent.
One Off Gallery, 28 Rosslyn Lone Tree Estate Road | www.oneoffcontemporaryartgallery.com
Prints Prints | HoF Gallery | Until 13 April
The Kibera Arts District’s first collaborative exhibition with Wajukuu Arts Collective and Kairos Futura at the HOF Gallery Kibera. The exhibition of prints was organized around the announcement of a new printmaking studio and gallery in the Kibera Arts District, to be launched in the next several months. Prints Prints is also a commemoration of the spirit of “True Collaboration” wich KAD/HoF envisions for the printmaking studio/gallery and for the East African Arts Communtiy.
Ebb & Flow | Sebawali Mwakai Sio| Sebawali Studio, Karen | Through 31 March
Sebawali explores the fluid intelligence of nature—how water shapes, adapts, and transforms, and how organic forms follow its lead in perfect harmony. Just as water interacts with everything it touches, shaping landscapes over time, Sebawali embraced a wide range of materials—cement, resin, wood, and more—allowing each to guide the creative process. Through this exploration, the works echo water’s ability to adapt, soften, and reshape its surroundings.
Sebawali’s signature style—deeply feminine, fluid, and nature-oriented— remain in this collection, revealing the quiet power of water and the lessons it holds. Ebb and Flow is an invitation to pause and witness how water does not force its way forward—it listens, adapts, and transforms.
ONGOING EXHIBITIONS
Fragments of Home | Romeo Niyigena | SenaArt Gallery X Under the Swahili Tree | Through 10 March
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.
Beauty of Africa II | David Kigozi | Banana Hill Art Gallery | Until 7 March
A solo exhibition by renowned Ugandan artist David Kigozi, showcasing his striking interpretations of African life, culture, and landscapes through vibrant color and bold composition. With each brushstroke, Kigozi brings to life the beauty, resilience, and spirit of Africa, offering a unique perspective that captivates art lovers and collectors alike. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of creativity and expression before it closes.
Dynamics of Our Heritage | Cartoon Joseph | Creativity Gallery | Nairobi National Museum | Until 16 March
Joseph Cartoon captures the soul of our shared heritage, blending traditional and contemporary influences. This exhibition beautifully complements the museum’s role as the custodian of Kenya’s cultural and natural history.
Wayfinder | Sahej Rahal | NCAI | Until 23 March
Mumbai-based artist Sahej Rahal’s first exhibition in Kenya and East Africa, welcomes viewers into Rahal’s world where myth, narrative, imagination, and technology intertwine to challenge conventional understandings of reality and encourage them to become active participants in Rahal’s ever-expanding cosmology.
Group Exhibition | The Artists Palette, Karen Village | Ongoing | 9am – 5pm
Including artists: Meek Gichugu , Michael Musyoka , Musah Mwakelemu &Â Nedia WereÂ