Ken Artifact’s Gallery

Ken Artifact’s Bio

Born on June 6th 1987 at Ngecha village as the second child in a family of three; I was brought up in this village and joined Mahinga primary school and completed in 2002 where I attained a K.C.P.E. certificate. In February 2003, I was invited to join Kijabe Boys Secondary school. I studied here for two terms, but left in the third term to join a day school at Ngecha, Gichuru High School. I studied here until 2004 third term when I took the advice of my parent to join another boarding school for the sake of a better future and off I left to Nyahururu Boys Secondary School. By good luck I was able to cope with life here till I completed in November 2006 and attained a K.C.S.E certificate. In February 2007, I joined Graffins College at Westland’s Nairobi where I studied computer engineering until November of the same year where I completed a certificate but couldn’t study for a diploma due to insufficient funds. My education ended here and I was out to find a job. With the bad economy, and corruption, finding a job was like buying time using silver and gold and so I ended up at home.

ARTISTIC TALENT

Born by a father who is an artist to date, my art started at childhood through working with my father in his studio, and as my core artist said, my art is through inheritance. Though art was not taught in school in those days the understanding of art come to me at early age and in 1996 and 1997, I was an artist with his own name although my studies still barred me form many events of art, but my art would speak for me whenever I was away. In September 1997, a lady by the name Jessica from Canada visited my father and got interested with my work. She started collecting my work, which I used to dump in my bedroom, until 2000 when she. I continued drawing and dumping them in my bedroom, from time to time I would take one or two pieces of my work to Ngecha gallery; in 2002 I joined them completely. I use oil, acrylic, sometimes I do sculpture and color prints. My art goes from full & semi abstract, imaginative, realistic, wildlife, situational.  The most interesting is the interpretation of my nighttime dreams.

Though my mission is to pass my talent to many young people as possible my income has shortened it all, but I am proud to have produced two artists namely Nachu Kariuki—who works and reside in Greece, and Judy Wanjiru—who is still venturing in the field of art. I am currently working with two young boys, aged 10 years, who I hope with time will be able to stand on their own. Ideas and moral support are needed towards my dreams of eradicating poverty in my community by  having at least one artist in each household, making Ngecha village a tourist destination will come to reality.

EXHIBITONS

1997 – Ngecha YMCA: theme:Art& Youth

1998 – Nuru art studio May & December

1999 – kuona Trust. Theme: Art in the street

2000 – Village market.  A joint exhibition

2001 – YMCA Limuru-solo exhibition

2002 -2009 Annual art festival at Ngecha

2003 – Banana Art gallery

- Goethe institute

2004 – Gallery Watatu . Joint exhibition

2005 – Alliance Francaise Nairobi

2006 – cotona Itary ministry of culture

- Merry go round meseum of kenya

2007 – kuona Trust

- Banana art studio

2008 – Village market: theme: Kenya burning

- Reopening of Kenya national museum

2009 – US embassy: -inauguration of Obama

-Unity through diversity

-Women history & black history

2009 – Paa ya paa: world music day (Daniel Pearl)

- Faith & churches

WORKSHOPS

  • Print workshop_Ramoma
  • 2000-2009_Afracan art family
  • Kenya burning _Ngecha
  • 2008-internaly displaced people Counseling workshop at Limuru Kirathimo camp
  • 2008- internally displaced people Children painting and counseling workshop at Ngecha gospel church camp
  • Public mural workshop
  • Rudua art & culture of turkana people
  • Mombas visual art and comas art
  • The street of Nairobi at Ramoma