One of Michael Soi’s works. Photo/Margaretta wa Gacheru
With the launch of the Circle Art Agency early this year, the Kenya contemporary art world has expanded significantly. Since January, the agency has secured several substantial art commissions from Nairobi’s corporate community for Kenyan artists to fill.
It’s also sold a number of art works to private individuals, several of whom have never owned art by a Kenyan artist before.
And perhaps most impressively, Circle Art has managed to secure a space for eight Kenyan artists to take part in the prestigious Bonham’s annual ‘‘Africa Now’’ Charity Art Auction this coming May.
According to one of the co-founders of Circle Art, Danda Jaroljmek, Kenyan artists have never been featured in the esteemed London-based auction ever before.
“Last year, the work of several Ugandan artists was part of the Bonham’s charity auction, but I don’t believe a Kenyan artist has been included before,” said Jaroljmek, who is also a former managing director of Kuona Trust.
The other two co-founders are Fiona Fox, formerly with the Tate Modern in London, and Arvind Vohara, professional photographer Kuona board member, and an avid collector of Kenyan art.
The eight artists whose works were shipped off to Bonham’s late last week are Cyrus Kabiru, Peterson Kamwathi, Joseph ‘Bertiers’ Mbatia, James Muriuki, Beatrice Wanjiku Njoroge, Anthony Okello, Michael Soi and Paul Onditi.
London auction
Each has donated at least one major work of their art to the London auction, which Jaroljmek sees as a significant sacrifice “since all of them could use the money” if and when their artwork is sold.
But of course, having Bonham’s on your CV as a venue where your work was exhibited is a bit of ‘‘cultural capital’’ that only comes to exceptional artists, as each of the eight must know.
What’s more, whatever funds are raised through the sale of their art will come back to Kenya. “The eight artists will help select the local art projects that the revenue from the sale of their work will be donated to,” Jaroljmek said.
It’s just one of the innovative approaches to ‘‘growing’’ an audience of local art collectors that Circle Art has devised. Despite their not being either a gallery, museum or art centre, the co-founders of Circle Art have introduced a countless number of Nairobi residents to Kenyan contemporary art.
And despite their having no fixed abode other than the homes of the Circle Art’s founding trio, whose private collections often serve to showcase some of the artists they advise clients and prospective collectors to consider acquiring, the Agency has already made a lasting impact on the local art scene.
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