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Throughout the year, the gallery will showcase artwork of artists from South, East and West Africa.
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Gallery visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the creative work
Image: HANDOUT
Artists in Kenya now have a chance to display their artwork on Bic's first-of-its-kind metaverse gallery launched on Wednesday in Africa.
The metaverse gallery is set to bring talent to the forefront by creating a virtual reality space where the artists can display their artwork.
This stems from Bic's commitment to empowering youth through creativity and self-expression.
The launch comes as an extension of the firm’s flagship art competition, Art Master Africa, which aims to encourage talent to express themselves through art using the BIC ballpoint pen.
Throughout the year, the gallery will showcase artwork of artists from South, East and West Africa.
Gallery visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the creative work crafted with the iconic Bic Cristal ballpoint pen.
Art enthusiasts will be able to purchase physical versions of the exhibited artwork, further supporting the burgeoning talents within the region.
Bic Marketing Director for Middle East and Africa Greg Alibaux said was excited about the launch of the metaverse gallery
“Self-expression is at the heart of what we do – resembling one of our main product categories, human expression," Alibaux said.
Alibaux said the firm believes in the importance of self-expression, and art is a form of that.
"Art Master Africa is one of our flagship competitions in the region with a focus on talent and youth empowerment," Alibaux said
Alibaux said year after year, the firm witnesses the astonishing talent that comes out of Africa, of which Bic is proud.
He said the decision to launch the Art Master Africa gallery in the metaverse came from the success that the competition saw in the region, and beyond.
He said the gallery aims to bring together the mystifying charm of creativity and the strength of technology and innovation, to bring the work created by African talent to life.
This year’s collection will include work done by Griffin Lundi, Maiku Fred, Gayi Eric and Stanley Were amongst other talented artists.
This year, the sixth edition of Art Master Africa will kick off in Africa and the Middle East.
Art Master Africa was incepted in South Africa in 2017, after which it expanded into the wider African continent, followed by the Middle East in 2021.
Every year, participants are challenged to create captivating artworks aligned with a central theme, using BIC ballpoint pens.
Past themes, such as "Celebrating Africa" and "Enchant Everyday Life" have inspired a plethora of iconic artworks that showcase the richness and diversity of African culture.