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James Mbuthia

James Mbuthia
James Mbuthia was born in 1958 in Banana Hill, Kiambu District, Kenya, where an extraordinary concentration of artists reside.  His formal education saw him through High School. His knowledge of art is entirely self-taught.

He is intensely creative in a wide variety of mediums, but especially prolific in oil on canvas. His inspiration is drawn from personal experiences. James’ work depicts his dreams, political commentaries and rural life in his home area.

His creativity is also evident in the small sculptures, woodcut prints and installation pieces he makes from recycled materials.

He is the founder and workshop coordinator for Art Without Borders Kenya. His initiative enables a team of artists to bring art to the children ensconced in the paediatric wards of Kenyatta National Hospital, slums and children's homes.

He has traveled to both France and the USA to take part in workshops.  His work has been extensively exhibited in his home country of Kenya.

See James Mbuthia at work

Selection of works

Click thumbnail to enlarge and scroll through all images
SOLD  - James Mbuthia – Once Upon a Time – Oil on canvas – 91h x 120w cm - Kshs 250,000
James Mbuthia – Country Side – Oil on canvas – 90h x 90w cm - Kshs 180,000
James Mbuthia – 2022 II – Oil on canvas – 92h x 92w cm - Kshs 200,000
James Mbuthia – Discussion – Oil on canvas – 90h x 90w cm - Kshs 180,000
James Mbuthia – Coming Together – Oil on canvas – 89.5h x 89.5w cm - Kshs 180,000
James Mbuthia – Near the Sea – Oil on canvas – 107h x 107w cm - Kshs 250,000
James Mbuthia – Young People – Mixed media on canvas – 70h x 100w cm - Kshs 150,000
James Mbuthia – 2022 I – Oil on canvas – 92h x 92w cm - Kshs 180,000
James Mbuthia – 2022 III – Oil on canvas – 65h x 64.5w cm - Kshs 100,000
James Mbuthia – 2019 – Oil on canvas – 60h x 89w cm - Kshs 150,000
SOLD - James Mbuthia – Family – Oil on canvas – 65h x 64w cm - Kshs 100,000
James Mbuthia – Shoulder to Shoulder – Oil on canvas – 61h x 61w cm - Kshs 90,000
James Mbuthia – Along Time Ago? – Oil on canvas – 60h x 44w cm - Kshs 70,000
James Mbuthia – Student – Oil on canvas – 51h x 46w cm - Kshs 70,000
James Mbuthia – Three Ladies – Oil on canvas – 47h x 47w cm - Kshs 60,000
James Mbuthia – Screamers – Oil on canvas – 46h x 92w cm - Kshs 100,000
James Mbuthia - Ripe - Mixed media - 99 x 100 cm
James Mbuthia - Temptations - Acrylic on canvas - 100h x 120w cm
James Mbuthia - Co wives, 2017 - Acrylic on canvas - 92h x 92w cm
James Mbuthia - Trees and house - Acrylic on canvas - 61h x 61w cm
James Mbuthia - Ready to sing, 2017 - Mixed media on canvas - 81h x 66w cm

Exhibitions

2018 - "Conversation in Silence", One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
2016 -  
"Imaginations in colour", One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
2015 -  "Every Painting is a Poem", One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
2013 – "How I see Politics", One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
2010 – “Collectable Art for Collectors”, RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2009 – “Art of Vision” (May-July), Seed Gallery, Newark, NJ., USA
2009 – Museum of African Art, Seoul, Korea, 
2009 – “Family Concepts,” RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2009 – “Il Mondo Magico Degli Ombrelli”, RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2008 – “Kenya and London Print Exhibition", RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2008 – “The Way I See It”, Village Market Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
2007 – “Love Series”, RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2006 – Juried Contemporary Kenyan Art Exhibition, Alliance Francaise, Nairobi, Kenya, 
2005 – Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers Annual Exhibition, London, UK, 
2005 – “True Colours”, RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2005 – “East African Biennale”, Tanzania 
2005 – “Creative Dreams” (solo exhibition), RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2005 – “World Environment Day Exhibition,” UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya
2004 – Nairobi, Kenya, Print Exhibition, RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2004 – “Kenya Art Exhibition”, New York City, USA
2003 – Banana Hill Studios and Ngecha Artists Association Exhibition, Banana Hill, Kenya 
2003 – “Three of a Kind”, RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2002 – “Best of Kuona”, National Museums  of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya, 
2002 – “Inner Coat”, National Museums of Kenya. Nairobi, Kenya
2001 – “Naïve Art”. Marseille, France
2001 – “Naïve Art”, Laval, France
2001 – “Street Art”, RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
2000 – “Survival of the Artist”, French Cultural and Cooperation Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
1999 – “Nairobi Insecurity”, UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya
1997 – Germany
1997 – Paraguay
1996 – “Banana Hill Reflections”, Goethe Institute, Nairobi, Kenya,  
1996 – “Studio Dormart”, Cologne, Germany
1995 – United States International University, Nairobi, Kenya

Collectors include

  • HE President Mwai Kibaki (Gift of CEO Safaricom)
  • Safaricom Ltd.
  • Harold Wackman, former World Bank Director, Kenya
  • HE Pierre Jacuqemont, former French Ambassador, Kenya

  • Permanent Collection, RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art
  • HE Sarakikia, former High Commissioner, Tanzania
  • HE and Mrs. Jim Wall, former Canadian High Commissioner, Kenya
  • Mary Collis, Chair of the Board of Trustees, RaMoMA

Publications:
  • Eastafab 2005
  • African Arts Volume XXXVIII, Number 3
  • Contemporary Art in Kenya, (France, Germany, Kenya Cultural Collaboration)
  • Print Making on a Budget by Mandy Bonnell and Stephen Mumberson

Press

Business Daily - 13-05-18 - ​Mbuthia’s blissful art at One Off Gallery
EastAfrican - 26-04-2013  -  Politics seen through the eyes of unequal animals
Business Daily - 25-04-2013  -  Painting Politics in Parables
The Star - 16-04-2013  -  A Toast to the 'Watch Dog'
EastAfrican - 29-06-2009  -  Love is all you need

James Mbuthia is exclusively represented in East Africa by One Off
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  • Home
  • About
    • One Off
    • One Off Team
  • Artists
    • Exclusive Artists
    • Associated Artists
  • Exhibitions
    • Timothy Brooke Memorial Exhibition
    • At Artcaffe
    • About Sankara >
      • Sankara Exhibition Archive
    • Exhibition Archive
  • Sculpture Garden
  • Visit
  • Purchase
    • Collectors
  • Media
    • Press
    • Video - artists in their workspaces
    • Video Archive
  • Contact