#KeCulture Lives in Kioko Mwitiki Art Gallery 

Along Apple Cross Road in Lavington, there is a gallery filled with artwork from creatives far and near; the first locally owned art gallery in Kenya, named after its eccentric owner, Kioko Mwitiki. 

Back in the 1980s, young Kioko had been en route to a scholastic future before he was expelled from Kenyatta University for anti-government protests. To make use of his open schedule, Kioko took up an apprenticeship as a welder in Nakuru, and it wasn’t long before his natural artistic talent seeped into his work. His creative sculptures caught the eye of a broker, and Kioko later discovered them in a gallery in Nairobi. This sparked the beginning of a glittering arts career that would take him from Nairobi to Europe to the United States. 

This activist turned welder turned artist took the jua kali craft style, of recycling junk and transforming it into art, to the highest of global arenas. When he returned home, his aim was to create a radical gallery that would disrupt the Kenyan arts industry and economically empower local creatives. So, in 2008, the Kioko Mwitiki Art Gallery (also called the Kioko Art Gallery) opened its doors to the public. Its innovative exhibitions were informed by the eclectic tastes of its founder, showcasing a wide range of work from young creatives with varying styles and mediums, rather than gatekeeping access to a select group of seasoned artisans. Such an approach would give many Kenyan creatives their first opportunity at a professional showcase, remove the middlemen and connect them directly to their buyers. 

The space was also designed to encourage the creative freedom of artists by providing them with a designated area where they could congregate, share their ideas and foster community. This was a step away from the traditional classroom setup up which Kioko believes trains people to think in a specific way, thereby limiting their imagination. 

Over a decade later, the Kioko Mwitiki Gallery continues to disrupt the local arts scene and provide a home to the country’s up-and-coming talents. Within its walls live countless gems that represent our artistic #KeCulture.