MEET THE ARTIST

HEY! 

I'M GATHONIE.

I am a Kenyan visual artist based in Nairobi.

I create figurative and expressive paintings inspired by people, colour, imagination, spirituality, and the stories that shape us. My work often explores identity, emotion, and the beauty found in everyday life.

I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. Although I studied law, I eventually found my way back to painting—my first love. What began as a childhood passion has become a lifelong practice of observation, storytelling, and making sense of the world around me.

I like to work intuitively, allowing each piece to evolve over time. My work is inspired by bold colour, high-contrast imagery, Pop Art, and screen printing, I’m interested in creating work that feels both personal and open to interpretation.

My work has been exhibited at the Kenya National Museum Affordable Art Show, the Sephrin Exhibition – Image of Africa, and Under the Swahili Tree Art Exhibition. My paintings are held in private collections both in Kenya and internationally.

At its heart, my practice is about living life in colour and creating space for reflection, connection, and curiosity.