The Re-framed art exhibition concluded on Tuesday at the Kenya National Theatre's Cheche gallery.
Three independent Kenyan curators-Karakana, Art a glance, and Sanaa Art Sarit-organized the three-day art fair, which served as a shared platform for local artists.
The event, which featured a variety of genres of paintings by established and emerging artists, drew art aficionados from throughout the country, including Cabinet Secretary for Arts, Youth, and Sports, Ababu Namwamba.
The CS was so taken with an etching by Ashna Kamande that he purchased it for Sh70,000.
"Namwamba passed by the exhibition while attending the Kenya National Theater awards and saw the piece that captivated him. He took it," Faith Karakana of Karakana gallery said.
A stroll through the gallery revealed a diverse range of stylistic preferences, and it was clear from the works on display that the artists were inspired by celebrated painting luminaries such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo and Rembrandt.
But not all borrowed heavily from the departed global icons. For instance, Bob Ratemo's work done between 2020 and 2021, reflected the mundane city life.
Arthur Nakemba's work, like Ratemo's, is highly influenced by the hustle and bustle of the city centre. He captures the bustling roadways with all makes of cars in all weather situations.
Nakemba portrays a cold night in a city setting in one of his excellent pieces. Another one is a stunning cityscape in which he captures the prominent skyscrapers of Nairobi County.
Onyango Ochieng is another artist whose ideas are based on the daily challenges of city dwellers. One of his pieces depicts mechanics resting on their backs while performing repairs beneath a vehicle.
For special effects, he took out a piece of carton and put it on the artwork where a mechanic looks to be resting on it.
The most captivating piece by Clinton Artisto is 'Mother's Love,' in which an infant sits comfortably and warmly on the mother's lap.
Austin Shena portrays the emotional sides of life between men and women, particularly in the early stages of relationships when the fires of love appear to be more vibrant.
Ugandan Paul Kasembeko was the only foreigner among the remarkable array of talented painters, and his paintings spoke eloquently about his significant knowledge of the game.
