Art, identity and innovation take centre stage at Kenya Museum Society exhibition

As East Africa’s creative economy continues to expand, young artists are emerging as some of its most influential voices, using visual art to document changing identities, digital culture, and life in rapidly growing cities.

The trend was evident at the 20th Kenya Museum Society Art Show, recently held at the National Museums of Kenya.

The exhibition brought together more than 400 artists and over 800 artworks, attracting thousands of visitors and offering a snapshot of the issues and ideas driving contemporary art in the region.

Portraits, sculptures, and digital collages brought the walls to life, many of them capturing the vibrant energy of Kenya’s youth.

Equally striking was the audience. Kenya’s renowned Gen Zs, including students, young professionals, and digital creators, dominated the show as active participants seeking to reshape the country’s social narrative through art.

Andrew Chege of Creative Real Artistic Energy (CRAE) says art has become a way for him to express emotion and draw inspiration from nature. What began as casual sketching a decade ago has grown into a full artistic practice, with some of his works now valued at up to Sh150,000.

He says young artists are increasingly using art to create their own platforms and redefine what it means to be an artist in Kenya today.

For Sam Mureithi, inspiration comes from childhood visits to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where he was exposed to wildlife while his grandfather worked there. Now a Fine Arts graduate from Kenyatta University, his work is largely nature-inspired, blending personal memories with symbolism around identity and purpose.

Senyonga Ismail, a self-taught contemporary visual artist from Uganda, dismisses the notion that digital resources capable of replicating thousands of artworks will replace the hand-held brush. He argues that digital tools cannot fully understand or accurately depict Africa’s rich cultural heritage on canvas.

“It is true that the advent of the digital age may adulterate art, but it can never replace the human hand. The human element will always be there. A machine can give us good ideas but can never paint like humans,” he says.

Ismail says artists must stay rooted in their craft and African identity to stand out in an era of imitation and AI-generated art, adding that lived experiences cannot be replicated by machines.

His work explores themes of women’s elegance, children’s innocence, and natural beauty.

Kari Mutu, co-chair of the Affordable Art Show, says the exhibition has provided a platform for emerging artists who cannot afford the high fees charged by established galleries in the city.

“We want to encourage emerging artists, not just those selling art pieces for millions of shillings,” she says.

“Many of the artists you see here cannot afford gallery spaces to exhibit their work. Although we also invite established artists, we need freshness. We focus on original works, not Internet-based pieces.”

Mutu says local authorities need to strengthen the art ecosystem, which currently offers limited support to artists.

“The ecosystem has a lot of moving parts, including mentorship, buyers, collectors, and the market. Kenyans must see art as a significant source of socio-economic value. Unfortunately, artists often feel as though they are on their own,” she says.

Proceeds raised from the art show support the National Museums of Kenya.