Njogu Kuria
Njogu Kuria is an independent, multimedia artist based in Nairobi, Kenya, known for his mind-bending work. He transforms discarded materials into powerful, textural creations that blur the lines between myth, memory, and urban futurism. Kuria's artistic practice, encompassing painting, sculpture, installation, and performance art, reimagines waste as a living archive and an evolving record of cultural resilience.
His recent works draw inspiration from the concept of Black Essence—a quality of being that signifies deep stillness at our core. This essence, a grounding and transformative force, is simultaneously deep, peaceful, and silent, yet also carries an annihilating power that strips away falsehoods, returning us to our origin. It manifests as mystery and force, appearing as peace, power, magic, and beauty. In Kuria’s art, this essence takes two forms: Peace, which is still and mysterious, like the quiet magic of the night; and Wrath, which is fierce, uncompromising, and transformative in its truth. This duality is vividly expressed in his upcycled rubber sculptures and costumes, crafted from discarded car, motorcycle, and bicycle tires, which serve as totems of resilience and transformation.
Another celebrated collection by Kuria features collage and multimedia works predominantly made from broken vinyl records. These textured portraits honor musical icons and global cultures, preserving the pulse of sound in a tactile form. Complementing these are his intricate scrap-metal sculptures, which inhabit a mythic space between beast and machine, acting as sentinels of imagined worlds.
Across all his diverse mediums, Kuria’s art seamlessly merges environmental consciousness with profound cultural storytelling. His creations function as guardians of sound, myth, and spirit, carrying forward the memory of what was once discarded and remaking it anew.
Featured Artwork.
Steel
69x83x48cm