Kevin Otieno

Kevin first heard about Uweza Art Gallery from a friend when he was still a high school student. He wanted to know more about art and design so he decided to join. After high school, Kevin studied art at the Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts in Nairobi. The sales of his artwork at the gallery helped him to cover some of the costs of his education, including his bus fare to and from school every day.

His favorite subjects to paint are slum landscapes, portraits, and abstracts. He hopes that other artists can learn from artists in Kibera and Kenya that art can be made with any materials. Even when you lack resources, there is still an opportunity to create art. Two years ago, Kevin started a design studio called SK Arts with a fellow Uweza Art Gallery artist. They design and paint a variety of products including t-shirts, mugs, water bottles, shoes, and more. Their hand-painted t-shirts are well-known in Kibera and this year, they opened their own shop for the business. In the future, Kevin hopes to become an art teacher and to own his own art gallery.