Kenyan Artist Sells Painting For Sh14 Million

Kenyan artist Wangari Mathenge has sold a painting entitled "Home Sweet Home" to the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, USA for Sh14 million ($100,000). 

The painting depicts a family of African-Americans enjoying their freedom from oppression after the Second World War. Mathenge is passionate about creating art that reflects history while also giving it a contemporary twist. The painting's size ensured that it will be displayed in a museum rather than purchased by private developers. 

“I’ve been working on this for so many years, it doesn’t feel meteoric at all,” she said. 

Three museums had expressed interest in the 193-square-foot painting, but the Crocker Art Museum's board member, Simon Chiu, secured the artwork by paying over Sh14 million. The museum became aware of Mathenge's work when one of its curators visited her solo exhibition in London in January 2023. They were so impressed that they included her on a list of artists whose work they hoped to acquire. In mid-April 2023, the museum learned of Mathenge's solo exhibition in Los Angeles.

A deal was made with Mathenge to bring the painting to Sacramento, California by August 2023. The piece will be displayed on the main wall near the entrance at Friedman Court. Mathenge was born in Karen, Nairobi in 1973 and later moved to London with her family due to her father's diplomatic assignment. She developed a passion for entrepreneurship and earned a degree in Business Administration before pursuing an MBA in Finance in San Diego, USA. Despite this, she felt unfulfilled and decided to switch to law, earning her degree from Georgetown University Law Centre. Feeling lost in her career, she was encouraged by a friend to take classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, eventually leading her to pursue a career in art. She has since showcased her work in solo exhibitions across London and the USA.