Anthony Okello Between Losing and Finding Exhibition
Anthony Okello One of the most important artists of his generation, he obtained a diploma in art and design from the Buruburu Institute of Fine Art and went on to work full time as a painter at Kuona Trust Museum Art Studio. Best known for two series: one exploring tribal mythologies from the Luo, Kikuyu and Taita peoples; the other, his Masquerade Series, examining identity and the artifice employed in disguising true intent - one of which attracted the then highest price ever paid for a Kenyan painting at Bonhams Auction House in London. 'Between Losing and Finding' explores exactly that. Okello has produced the body of work, utilising sketches from throughout his career, whilst experiencing a number of personal challenges, both happy and sad. He has found himself questioning religious belief in the face of personal bereavement, both his own and the diverse doctrines of those surrounding him. He uses clothing and objects to portray different religions. Okello says the main body of work was produced during some highly emotional events in his life. 'The heaviness' is a perfect example of this with the main protagonist being 'a broken person' made up of numerous borrowed body parts, all clothed in stripes which for this artist represent bondage, lack of freedom; a prison sentence. Realising the extreme sadness of the work, Okello has tried to mitigate his sense of being overwhelmed by using a generally upbeat palette. Okello's works were shown at Pop Up Africa (GAFRA) in Cork Street, London in 2014/15. He has also exhibited in the Netherlands, France, India and at the Heong Gallery at Downing College, Cambridge, UK in 2017. The artist's works are held in the collections of international accounting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers, I&M Bank and the East African Visual Arts Trust. More on Anthony Okello
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