As  usual we need a  mid-month update to keep you up on the art happenings iN Nairobi… Scroll down to see the events & exhibitions that have been announced since the last update…

EVENTS

Let There Be: Woodcarving Workshop with Sammy Mutinda | Goethe Institut | Friday 16 May | 3 – 6pm

Upgrade your woodcarving expertise with Sammy Mutinda! In “Light and Voices of Creation” currently showing as part of “The Ties that Bind” exhibition, Sammy Mutinda explores creation both as an act of making and as a sensory experience. Through carving, he inscribes time, labour, and memory into the surface of the wood, shaping a tactile narrative that speaks of both destruction and renewal. The use of sound adds another dimension to this dialogue. As echoes of presence, they form an auditory landscape that interacts with the physicality of the carved surfaces.

@squilahartist a is a visual artist known for his expressive abstract works. Inspired by nature and human behaviours, he explores woodcut block printing, sculpture, and other disciplines to create immersive visual experiences. His work pushes the boundaries of abstraction, playing with colour, form, and emotion to invite deeper engagement. Sign up to the workshop via @goetheinstitut_nairobi link in bio.

The Pencil & the Guitar | Alliance Française | Saturday 17 May | 2 – 5pm

Join REVEAL! Comics ConversationsEA May edition at the Multimedia Library of Alliance Française de Nairobi for a special Comics Conversation “THE PENCIL ✏️ & THE GUITAR 🎸” featuring Paul Kelemba – Maddo, Dan Muli, Wycotie and Igah S. Come learn about what they do after drawing their artwork. What do artists do when not drawing their comics? How do you wind down? With Mapolomoko Madd @nairobidhobi

Jua Kali | Nairobi Sketch Tour | Location on sign up | Saturday 17 May | 10:30am – 12:30pm

Closing out the first chapter going back to one of the most epic spots in this city. If you want to see the collective spirit of Nairobi with work, innovation, and industry then the juakali tour is for you. Visit the hallowed ground that is juakali. You probably have something in your house, or used something , or come into contact with something that’s been made here.
Sign up link in bio.

Open Studios | GoDown Arts Centre | Saturday 17 May | 11am – 5pm

Visit this iconic Nairobi art space where the artists will have printmaking, painting, sculpting and ‘Ask an Architect’ stations.

“The Ties That Bind” Artists Talk / “Bitter Currents” choreographed performance by Sue Kambua | Goethe Institut | Wednesday 21 May | 6pm / 8pm

The final artist talk in the series – with the rest of the Sasa Nairobi Fellows. Don’t miss out on the rich discussions that will take place among them and fellow cultural enthusiasts. Make sure to check out their work beforehand at the currently running exhibition “The Ties that Bind” in the Goethe auditorium

In @wallace_juma ‘s pieces, we can find formations of corporealities, mythologies that are not entirely human or animal, an integration of the two universes that most fascinated him. @squilahartist Mutinda is a visual artist known for his expressive abstract works. Inspired by nature and human behaviours, he explores woodcut block printing, sculpture, and other disciplines to create immersive visual experience. @sachiegrandd is a Kenyan visual artist, specializing in sculpture. Her work explores identity, environment and culture.

Now You See II (detail) by Joel Lukhovi, part of the exhibition “Ties That Bind”

Thursday 22 May | 3 – 6pm | Histories at Noon – Photo Album Workshop with Joel Lukhovi

Thursday 29 May | 7pm | The Mist | The Clearing (weekly radio & in person show) with Bizi Bingi & Nartoso

Sign up to the workshops via @goetheinstitut_nairobi link in bio.

Brave New World | An immersive theatre & dining experience | Saturday 17 May | 4pm

Meet Me In The Gallery | Munyu Space | Saturday 24 May | 4 – 10pm

Special screening inside ‘Between The Bars’, a solo exhibition by Ndung’u Mbithi (exhibition runs to Saturday May 31st)
The films Taste of Cherry (1997) and The Outrun (2024) will be screened. Free entry.

The 18th Affordable Art Show | Nairobi National Museum | Opening Night Friday 23 May | Exhibition continues Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 May

The Affordable Art Show is the largest art show in East Africa, showcasing the work of new and established artists in East Africa. More than 400 artists will be exhibiting their work, with over 800 works of art on display. The artists range from first time exhibitors to established artists who have exhibited internationally.

This is a juried show, which means that prices are set during a discussion between the artist and the jury which includes the Curator of Art at the National Museums of Kenya.  A percentage of the sale price of each piece goes to the Kenya Museum Society to fund projects at the National Museums of Kenya.

Live soulful music (classic, jazz, afrobeat, and contemporary rhythms) by Peter the Violinist.

Entry fees: Friday Opening – Ksh 700 | Saturday and Sunday – Ksh 100
Purchase tickets via @Kenyabuzz. | Full programme here.

OPENING THIS WEEK

 No Return Ticket | Sheila Bayley| Under the Swahili Tree (Karen)| Thursday 15 May | 6pm

See Bayley’s paintings with her distinctive style—characterized by intricate black linework and vibrant colors—reflecting her internal landscape of fragmentation and connection. Read more about Bayley’s work in our article in Art & Culture.

Between the Bars | Ndung’u Mbithi | Munyu Space | Opening reception Thursday 15 May, 6pm | Exhibition continues through 31 May

Between the Bars is the first solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist and musician Ndung’u Mbithi ( @ndungumbithi ). Through weaving, painting, installation, and object-based assemblage, the exhibition meditates on the themes of alcoholism, mental health, shame, survival, and healing.

The exhibition’s title refers to both personal history and cultural references: “Chairkicker” is the artist’s visual alter ego—born from past experiences with suicidality—while “Between the Bars” alludes to Elliott Smith’s song of the same name, often regarded as an intimate portrait of addiction and emotional vulnerability. The artworks are constructed using found and repurposed materials such as sisal, wood, paper, and domestic remnants. These materials, often fragile or forgotten, echo the precarity and persistence of those navigating recovery and relapse.

At its core, Between the Bars is a spatial confession—transforming pain into presence, memory into monument. It invites the viewer into a world where support systems are makeshift, stories are threaded into objects, and healing is a quiet act of resistance.

ONGOING EXHIBITIONS

No Borders | Prisscila Baxter | Chez Mahmadi | Until 24 May

Through her lens, a world unveiled. Journey beyond boundaries with *Prisscila Baxter’s* *”No Borders”* Photo Exhibition showcasing at Chez Mahmadi Gallery. Free entry but RSVP +254714082910.

The Kirk Season, 2025

The Descendants | Elias Mung’ora | One Off Gallery | Until 25 May

‘The Descendants’ is a series of work that continues my exploration of missionary work during the colonial period and the
lasting legacy that continues to date. The work is primarily based on the East Africa Scottish Mission in Tumutumu, from where my family trace their Christian heritage. The missionaries were interested in all areas of daily life, from education and spirituality to local customs, from marriage to circumcision and including the mundane; cooking, personal hygiene and mode of dress.” – Elias Mung’ora – Nairobi – April 2025.

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.

Shades of Hope | Solomon Muchemi | Creativity Gallery, Nairobi National Museum | EXTENDED to 27 May

Solomon Muchemi, a Kenyan self-taught artist born in 1987, turned adversity into artistry, transitioning from an electrical engineering pursuit to creating innovative lampshades adorned with his paintings. His professional journey, marked by solo and group exhibitions, reflects a passion for expressing hope and joy through diverse mediums, capturing the essence of everyday moments. Daily: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM. Normal entry rates apply

The Ties That Bind | Goethe Institut | Until 28 May

“The Ties That Bind” – a showcase of the artists that were part of the Sasa Nairobi Fellowship. Initiated by the Goethe-Institut to bridge the gap between artistic theory and practice, the year-long programme offered five artists an opportunity to develop their practice and engage more deeply with artistic discourses and research-based approaches.

Bringing together their practices, the exhibition is diverse in aesthetics and themes – each piece an invitation into a unique artistic realm, but also an opportunity to see what unites these young upcoming artists.

Beyond the exhibition opening, there will be a whole range of activities within the framework programme of the exhibition, amongst them artist talks with all the participating artists, delving deep into the development of the practice and how the programme has influenced their approach.

See Also
Review: Posta – Go see Anthony Muisyo’s compelling exhibition, closing 9 May

Read our article on www.innairobi.com – Click Art & Culture.

Dark Colours Bring Waters | Njenga Ngugi | Kamene Cultural Centre | Until 31 May

“I’m currently deep in my residency—and what a journey it’s been. I’ve learned so much about my creative process, and I’m profoundly grateful for the opportunity to bring my vision to life.” – Njenga Ngugi

Lines of Legacy – Charcoal Dialogues Between Patrick Mukabi & Jimmy Kitheka | Ardhi Gallery | Until 1 June

In this evocative two-man show, celebrated Kenyan artist Patrick Mukabi (b. 1969) and his protégé Jimmy Kitheka (b. 1993) present a compelling visual conversation in charcoal. Lines of Legacy explores the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, technique, and vision, tracing the quiet yet powerful evolution of artistic voice through mentorship.

Mukabi, renowned for his expressive portraits and dynamic figurative works, brings decades of mastery to the medium, his lines confident and alive with movement. Kitheka, one of the most promising young talents nurtured under Mukabi’s wing at the GoDown Arts Centre, responds with fresh intensity—his work probing identity, form, and presence through a younger lens.

Though rendered in the same medium, their works reflect different rhythms of life and artistic consciousness. Mukabi’s pieces speak with the gravity of experience; Kitheka’s carry the curiosity and boldness of youth. Together, they create a visual call and response—each stroke, shadow, and smudge building a bridge between two generations of Kenyan artistry.

Theresa Musoke | The Presence of Living Things (1963 – 2025) | Exhibition Until 5 June

Musoke’s hand is skillful and distinctive; rendering her drawings, paintings and prints in an atmospheric blend of sensitive draughtsmanship and painterly experimentation. Colour, value and form come together in intuitive and organic ways; trees and birds merge with the sky, antelope and wildebeest with the ground, birds become clouds. Equally stunning, are her figurative works, primarily self-portraits that offer us a brief and rare glimpse of the artist and her impressions and translations just as she sees herself.

The Journey Within by Sheila Bayley

No Return Ticket | Sheila Bayley | Under the Swahili Tree, Karen | Until 15 June

Sheila Bayley’s art is more than just visual expression—it’s a deeply personal exploration of identity, belonging, and healing.Her distinctive style—characterized by intricate black linework and vibrant colors—reflects her internal landscape of fragmentation and connection. Experimenting with patterns and colors allows Bayley to create stories, where words and explanations are truly unnecessary. Read our article to learn more about Bayley & her work.

Powerful Kenyan Women | HoF Gallery, Kibera Arts District | Until 15 June

Powerful Kenyan Women brings together works by Kenyan women artists across sculpture, fashion, furniture, murals, and more. The opening event invites the public to engage with powerful stories of success, shaped by collaboration and community.

Notes on Friendship: Breaking Bread | Various artists | NCAI | Until 27 July

The Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI) and The Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) Tamale proudly present Notes on Friendship: Breaking Bread, a collaborative exhibition connecting artist-led institutions from Kenya and Ghana. This cross-continental project emerges from a desire to bridge geographic and generational gaps, fostering the exchange of dreams, ideas, and struggles influenced by the dynamic cultural, social, economic, and political realities of both regions. At its heart, Notes on Friendship: Breaking Bread explores the concept of friendship as a site for dialogue, critique, and creative support.  @ncai254

Sina Jina Collection | 2nd Edition | The African Arts Trust | Ongoing

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

Alibhai Mullah Jevanjee – The Grand Old Man of Kenya | The Nairobi Gallery

Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee was an Indian-born Kenyan merchant, politician and philanthropist. He was amongst the first and most influential Indian settlers in Kenya, amassing significant wealth and becoming a leader of Kenya’s Indian community.