#KeArtists – George Ongeri

As a young boy, George Ongeri was drawn to two colours: red and blue. With time he learnt that these two colours were a representation of his personality – vibrant (red) and calm (blue). In those days, he developed an interest in drawing, but had not given his emerging talent much attention. When George enrolled at Ngosa High School, he got the chance to learn art and imagined himself as an artist.

After George completed his Form 2 studies, he had to quell his hankering for an artist life. His parents believed that art was not a career. George moved west to Bugema Adventist University in Uganda, where he dove into the world of Accounting.

Four years later he was back in Kenya and off to the capital to begin implementing his Accounting knowledge. He had a solid plan: to work for a year, save money, then immerse himself in the self-employment sector. His biashara idea? Dairy farming. A perfect plan, but also one easier said than done. George’s tenure at the bank lasted seven years before he was dismissed. By then, he had started a family and his savings were scarce.

Fortunately, through the help of his contacts, he was able to take on a financial advisory role within a month after his previous job. Here he worked for six months and thereafter, an unsatisfied George quit. Spending more time at home allowed him to think through what he wanted to do – beyond the world of numbers and work on his purpose. He was drawn back to his high school dream. When he drew and painted, he felt whole. But the art was just a leisure endeavor and was hardly keeping the lights on initially.

A carpenter colleague had seen George’s work and encouraged him to use his roadside workshop to display his paintings, citing that drivers passing by the Loresho Shopping Centre would undoubtedly be drawn to his work. More importantly, he could make money from it. Again, easier said… For a year, George sold nothing – but, his creative spirit soldiered on, the time only enhancing it. Eventually, he was contracted for a job painting a house. It was not his ideal choice, but given his lack of options, he saw it as an opportunity.

With the money George earned, he rented a small shack on Kaptagat Road in Loresho. There, he sold his first painting to an upcoming restaurant in the Lavington area. One painting led to a commission agreement for a number of designs. Through the visual display at the restaurant, George attracted more customers. More income followed and so came the idea of expanding his space. George moved his small shack to a wider kiosk – The Art Kiosk – whose display stands out amidst other shops at the corner of Loresho Ridge and Kaptagat Road.

His business is soon turning four and his two children, Manasseh and Sibia are actively involved in the family business. George Ongeri is an open-minded man of faith, a believer in destiny, a lover of art, and a fine example of the positive character we appreciate. Hongera George, for your art and your passion.