Art This Weekend & Beyond

There’s always a week iN Nairobi when all the art seems to happen! Scroll down to see what’s opening, what’s one-off & what’s still on…

ONE OFF EVENTS

Self Select: Nairobian in Tokyo | Yoshinari Nishio + David Omondi | Munyu Space | Artist Talk: Thursday 27 March | 6pm | Exhibition Opening Tuesday 25 March | Until 30 March

Self Select is an ongoing project since 2007 in which the Japan based artist Yoshinari Nishio, exchanges clothes with passersby in cities around the world by asking them to do so in their local language. So far, the project has been conducted in Paris, Nairobi, Cotonou, and Auckland, exchanging clothes with a total of 117 people.

A new version, Self Select: Nairobian in Tokyo (2017) is an attempt to exchange with others the position of negotiator, which the artist has assumed up to now. The artist invited David Omondi to Tokyo, who had no overseas experience and is not an artist, to entrust him with this role. The first exhibition was held at the National Art Center, Tokyo in 2018, and now, the project results is shown in Nairobi.nThis exhibition is curated by James Muriuki.

Book Club: What Do We Want | NCAI | Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 March | 2pm

A two-part book club session, led by Ato Malinda, to discuss the work of Donald Judd, Mona Hatoum, art restitution and repatriation, and whether “museuming” needs reform. Come and let’s put our heads together and re-imagine (through the work of Donald Judd and Mona Hatoum) what African and Kenyan art spaces and institutions can be as we decolonize ourselves and ask: What do we want?

Spaces are limited, so sign up via the link in bio on NCAI Instagram to secure your spot.

I Come From There (For Palestine): An Evening at the Gallery | Xavier Verhoest | Tribal Gallery | Thursday 27 March | 6:30 – 10pm

A poignant exhibition by Xavier Verhoest with an evening of music, poetry and conversation. Look forward to and oud performance by Shamsa and poetry by Jazziyah. Booking is requied and seats are very limited.

Immersive Dining, Time-Traveling, and Sonic Experience | 910 James Gichuru | Friday 28 March | 5 – 10:30pm

Step into a dystopian visionary novel, this one-of-a-kind dinner event merges performance art and culinary innovation to transport you to a future shaped by technology and control.

Drama / Dance Performance by:Lost Art Centre | Sound and Music curated by Scalarbane | Brave new World Multi-course  Dystopiania dinner Curated by Antonella Putton

Guests will be invited to interact with the performers and the environment around them, adding an element of unpredictability and choice within a structured and controlled setting. You become an active participant in this Brave New World—your decisions, reactions, and conversations will help shape the narrative of the evening. Delve into critical themes from Brave New World: Loss of Individuality; Conflict Between Happiness and Freedom; The role of Technology in Society; The Consequences of a Perfectly Engineered World.  Dress Code: Futuristic/Dystopian

Please RSVP by March 26th 2025. For any questions, please call Sheba on 0741026722.

Art of Printmaking Workshop | Winnie Mumbi | Kibera Arts District | Saturday 29 March | 11am – 4pm

Join Winnie Mumbi as she shares the process of Silk Screen Printing in an all day screen printing workshop. For more information or to register, contact Santana – 0781744639 or Pato – 0741443678.

NEW EXHIBITIONS

Shades of Hope | Solomon Muchemi | Nairobi National Museum | Creativity Gallery | Opening Tuesday 25 March | Until 30 April

Hope is not a straight path—it is stitched together like the fabrics I piece onto my canvas, held by strings of resilience and painted with the colors of experience. My art tells the untold story of self-discovery, where every stroke with a palette knife reveals a journey of trying, failing, and rising again~ @solomonmuchemi_artist

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Life between ebb & flow: Mangrove ecologies Presents Radio Mikoko+ المنغروف | Kamene Art Centre | Opening Friday 28 March | 6pm | Until 30 March | Opening hours 10am – 6pm

Radio Mikoko+ brings together oral histories, material explorations, sound recordings, and visual ethnographies that convey the rhythms, dynamisms, and regenerative capacities of liminal seascapes. Come experience a sensory encounter and tune into the manGrooves through the living ecosystem of Radio Mikoko+_

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Olivia Pendergast | The Light That We Are | One Off Gallery | Opening Saturday 29 March | 2 – 5pm

After a considerable hiatus, Olivia Pendergast is showing her stunning new collection of oil paintings. The show comprises both landscapes and figurative works. Pendergast says of her work: ‘Our world has been sweetly misguided as we crave and seek objects, experiences and relationships to cure our hunger for happiness. It is a simple misunderstanding”. Pendergast’s work is intimately tied into her Non-Duality Meditation practice.

Read more about Pendergast and her work in our artist profile. 

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Akiba – Joining the Dots | The Living Rooms | Saturday 29 –  Sunday 30 March | 1 – 8 pm

An immersive multidisciplinary showcase of collage, painting, sculpture, fashion, and film, highlighting the convergence and rich tapestry of artistic mediums crafted by Akiba over time and in the present. Join the Dots illuminates contemporary, vibrant African narratives and cultural references.

 Free Entry Tickets to RSVP Via Link in Bio.

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ONGOING EXHIBITIONS

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Closing Events: Ebb & Flow | Sebawali Mwakai Sio| Sebawali Studio, Karen | 29 & 30 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.

Sebawali Studio, Kombe Rd, Karen. Call 0712294777 | @sebawali

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New Wine in Old Skins: Artevara Art Exhibition | Chez Mahmadi | Through March 31

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.

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XX Chromosome Exhibition | Ardhi Gallery | Until Monday 31 March

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.

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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.

HoF Gallery, Olympic, Kibera | For more information call +254 741 443 678 |@hofgallerykibera

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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.

“We don’t always have the opportunity to exhibit new works from the artists we regularly collaborate with, especially in between their solo exhibitions or curated shows.  However, recently we have received some exceptional pieces that need to be seen on the walls of our beautiful gallery.”

See Also

Through Waithera’s Lens: Reimagining Art Deco – An East African Perspective

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BEASTS & PETALS | Mwass Githinji | Red Hill Art Gallery | Until Saturday 20 April

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.

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East Chrome | Banana Hill Art Gallery | Until 26 May

Banana Hill Art Gallery is delighted to present “East Chrome”, an evocative exhibition showcasing the works of four exceptional Ethiopian artists—Eyayu Genet, Yonas Degefa, Nega Yilma, and Kibeom Seyoum. This exhibition brings together a dynamic fusion of colour, identity, and cultural expression.

The title “East Chrome” reflects the vibrancy and depth of artistic vision emerging from Ethiopia. Chrome, signifying colour and brilliance, represents the bold, chromatic storytelling that these artists bring to the canvas. Through their unique styles and perspectives, they invite us to experience the rich artistic landscape of East Africa, where tradition and contemporary influences intertwine.

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

Fragments of Home | Romeo Niyigena | SenaArt Gallery X Under the Swahili Tree | Through 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.