Gitamo Mokeira is a self-taught contemporary visual artist.
She discovered she could draw at a young age but her artistic journey took off after high school. Her paintings were mostly watercolour works on paper.
She draws inspiration from the beauty of nature, women, love and the intensity of emotions.
Mokeira participated in her first art exhibition by Uweza Foundation dubbed Wasanii wa Mtaani at Alliance Française de Nairobi this month and won the People's Choice Award.
The 22-year-old artist was elated to be recognised for her work. “I was happy to win the award. I felt inspired and motivated to pursue my journey,” she said.
“I am glad for the support I got from my friends, family and strangers who felt I deserved their votes.”
Her family have supported her since she was 11 years old by getting her brushes and paints as they realised her interest was in art. Since 2020, she has been able to sell some of her pieces online and to her friends.
Mokeira has progressed her craft onto recycled materials such as wood pieces, cardboard and finally onto canvas using oil and acrylic mediums.
Her passion for working with kids started after high school, volunteering at Joseph Kang'ethe Primary School and then later at ObuLamu, where she met Wycliffe Ongwena.
“ObuLamu gave me an opportunity to be myself and the interaction with the kids helped me heal my inner child, giving them what I felt I didn't receive,” she says.
Mokeira hopes to show people that they are not isolated in the journey of life and that all things that make us lonely connect us. She hopes everyone can take part in the journey of understanding ourselves as humans, our pain, joy, strife and reasons for existence.
Her aspirations are to go to art school and improve her craft, get knowledge and acquire more technical skills. “I would also like to do an ECDE course so that I am able to teach children art in any institution,” she says.
Currently, she's looking forward to a 12-week training by Uweza Foundation courtesy of the award she won during the exhibition.
Mokeira says she will continue to make art for the people and for the understanding of the human experience.