Six Kenyan Artists to Feature in London Exhibition Curated by Kenyan-British Doctor

Six Kenyan artists are presenting works that examine identity, memory, and notions of home in a new exhibition at the Africa Centre in London. 

Landscapes from Home runs from 15 to 23 January. Curated by Stephanie Chianda, a Kenyan-British doctor and practising artist, the exhibition focuses on how creativity connects Africans living abroad with the places and experiences that shape their sense of origin. 

Chianda, founder of Newcastle-based platform Asili Creatives, aims to provide a space where diasporic audiences can engage with cultural narratives through art. Her dual background in medicine and art informs the exhibition’s emphasis on both emotional resonance and cultural preservation.

The exhibition features Coster Ojwang, Sheila Bayley, Viktart Mwangi, Andrew Crae, Doreen Mueni, and Swift9 Graffiti, each offering a distinct perspective on Kenyan life. Ojwang’s figurative canvases capture scenes from Kisumu and Nairobi, while Mueni’s abstract series The Weight of Absence addresses trauma and femicide.

Bayley explores domestic and social life, Mwangi reimagines Nairobi’s urban landscape with an afro-aspirational style, Crae focuses on overlooked natural landscapes, and Swift9 Graffiti blends street culture with fine art to project a forward-looking vision of African creativity. Together, these works create a dialogue on the diasporic experience, highlighting how memory and cultural identity are maintained across distance. 

Chianda notes: “When you talk about home, you talk about the places you hung out and the feelings you get. Art allows diasporas to retain a sense of it and celebrate who they are.”

Landscapes from Home also aligns with Asili Creatives’ wider mission of supporting Pan-African artists through exhibitions, open studios, and mentorship. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the exhibition underscores the role of contemporary African art in sustaining community identity and fostering engagement between Africa and its diaspora. 

Visitors to the Africa Centre will encounter works that affirm cultural heritage and reimagine the idea of home through the lens of a new generation of Kenyan artists.