Ngecha Artist Association

Fredrick Kamau Mbugua’s Bio

I was born at Ngecha village in Limuru Kenya and studied at Dr. Kraph’s primary school in Ngechaand and the Canon Apolo Primary. My primary school teachers loved his drawing and often requested that I draw various items for them. I continued to my studies at Starehe Boy’s centre for secondary education; here I did not deeply get into art because Art was not a class subject and it was not in the curriculum for study. It only appeared once a week in a special Friday afternoon school club of which I was not a member. My teacher, as usual, demanded that all else should be stopped and concentration put in Exams class to pave for a bright future. For these reasons I did little in art during this period, but my talent lay deep in him. After leaving school in 1974 I worked for various firms like Shell and B.P, Limuru conference centre and Kenya meat commission. In 1976 I could sense artistic inspiration from time came up with fine art works.

At this time I met Ruth Schaffener who encouraged me. She soon noted that I needed special training and so in 1985 I enrolled for a three year graphic art study at YMCA shauri moyo training. Here I was introduced to block lettering, calligraphy and other advertising serifs. Here too, I learned pen and ink drawing, color painting, tie and dye and also batik dyeing. This improved my artistic work immensely. I attempted a grade 3 government trade test and passed, which qualified me for a Diploma in 1987.His family has no cultural history, I am the only artist. I married in 1990 and have three children.

WORKSHOP

1.  1988                        -            Block print workshop                                    -            Nairobi Museum Gallery

2. 1989                        -            Kengo’s Art & Soil                                    -            Nairobi Hilton Hotel

3. 1989                        -            Family Planning Mural art W/Shop            -            Boulevard Hotel Nairobi

4. 1992                        -            Family Planning Calendar W/Shop            -            FPPS Offices Longonot Place

5. 1996                        -            paint for Calendar W/Shop                        -            Silver Springs Hotel

6. 1999                        -            Color Paint W/Shop                                    -            Kuona Trust Museum

7. 2000                        -            Color Paint W/Shop(French Crew)            -            Ngecha Artist Association

8. 2002                        -            Phoenician Art                                                -            Ramoma Nairobi

9. 2005                        -            Banana Fibre W/Shop                                    -            Ngecha Artist Association

10. 2005            -            New Media W/Shop                                    -            Kuona Trust  Go-down

11. 2005            -            Art Management W/Shop                        -            Min of culture Nyeri

12. 2005            -            Scrap metal W/Shop                                    -            Ngecha Artist Association

13. 2009            -            Ngecha/Seattle Bridge                                     -            Ngecha Artists Association

EXHIBITIONS

In 1985 the year Fred enrolled for an art course he participated in his first ever  exhibition. It consisted of drawings by YMCA art teachers and students  and was titled impressions  in graphics

Other followed in these  years.

1985            -            Impressions in Graphics                         -            Goethe Institute

1986            -            Together we go                                                -            Sarit Centre

1987            -            Art and Culture of Kenya                        -            Nairobi Museum

1987            -            Art Fair                                                            -            Nairobi Museum

1989            -            Art Go-Round                                                -            Nairobi Museum

1988            -            Utamaduni Wa Kenya                                    -            Charter Hall

1990            -            Ngecha A village of Artists                          -            Gallery Watatu Annex Nairobi

1990            -            Mixed Media Exhibition                             -            Nairobi Museum

1990            -            Exhibition of paintings ESSO                        -            Charter Hall

1991            -            FPPS Annual Calendar Exhibition              -            Goethe Institution

1992            -            Art in Kenya Today                                         -            Goethe Institution

1992             -            5 Man exhibition                                         -            Jax Restaurant Nairobi

1993            -            3 Man exhibition                                           -            Nairobi Museum

1994            -            Visual Art Calendar ( HFCK Exhibition)

1995            -            Gender Violence                                    -

1997            -            Youth in A changing                                      -            Nairobi Museum

1997            -            Art on Rail Exhibition                                        -            Nairobi Railways

1998            -            FPPS Art on rail                                                -            Nairobi Railways Station

1999            -            FPPS Art on Rail                                                -            Nairobi Railways Station

2000            -            FPPS Calendar on corruption                                    Sarit Centre Nairobi

2002            -            Human Rights                                                            Ngecha YMCA

2002            -            Edupuppets Festival                                                Kenya Theatre

2003            -            Peace in the  world                                                 Ngecha YMCA

2003            -            Visual Art in Kenya                                                 Goethe Institution

2005            -            Millennium Goals (UN)                                                UN Head Quarters

2005            -            Towards A corruption                                                Yaya Centre

Free Society

2006            -            Contemporary Art in Kenya                                     French Cultural Centre

2006            -            Innovative Art GTZ Health and Human Right Exhibition-     Goethe

2007            -            Ngecha Untitled Exhibition                                    YMCA Ngecha

2007            -            Eye on African Art                                                Village Market

2009            -            Unity through Diversity Kenya Perspective              US Embassy/ Runda /French cultural centre

Frederick has also done numerous commissioned pieces, won numerous awards, and donated many pieces. In addition to his art work, he is a teacher as well and has taught multiple art students.

FUTURE Plans

Fred has frequently loved to own a workshop with a show room and a library. Here he dreams of inviting artists for workshop, Exhibitions training, children workshops and shows ETC.