Nyaga_arts

My name is Steve Nyaga, and I am a painter born in Nakuru, Kenya, in 1978. I currently live and work in Nairobi. I hold a Diploma in Fine Arts from Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts. My artistic journey took a significant turn with the African Beauty series (2019–2025), a body of work that has allowed me to refine and define my unique style. Much of my creative inspiration stems from African scarification and body art, themes that form the foundation of the African Beauty series.

I work primarily with pastels, charcoal, and acrylics on reversed canvas. This approach lets me build layers of texture and emotion, enabling me to capture deep feelings and subtle expressions with both immediacy and nuance.

For me, art is a way to explore identity, tradition, and emotional depth. Through my paintings I investigate cultural symbolism and the beauty of resilience, aiming to create works that speak to both personal and collective histories.

My work has been exhibited at the International School of Kenya (ISK) and TEDx at ISK in 2024. I have held solo exhibitions at Noir Gallery, Peponi Hotel, Diani Hotel, The Lawfords Hotel in Malindi (2022–2023), and The Talisman Hotel (2019). I have also participated in group exhibitions at the Kenya National Museum, Samsung TV (2021–2022), Singulart, and Icanvas. In 2019, I was recognized in the Kenya on Canvas competition by Safaricom.

Through the African Beauty series and my broader practice, I strive to bridge tradition and contemporary expression—creating works that celebrate African cultural heritage while leaving a lasting emotional impact on viewers..