Artist celebrates his first solo exhibition at Melville art gallery
Johannesburg, South Africa (May 4, 2021) – Kenyan artist D. Githuki is expected to open his first ever solo art exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa this month.
“Nairobi’s Mukuru: The Shiny Part of the Coin” runs May 6th – 13th and will occupy all walls of Denzil’s & Jo Art Gallery in Melville.
“Spending the first 21 years of my life in the slums was certainly rough and challenging at times, seeing and experiencing things that not many people around the world get to experience,” said Githuki.
“But because I believe that every coin has a shiny part, I chose to capture on canvas some of my daily observations in a positive, upbeat and shiny manner.”
Eighteen of D. Githuki’s works of art will be on display during the Johannesburg show; including a special art piece, “Togetherness”, which the artist has donated to be auctioned off to raise funds for a new youth visual arts program at the Alex Arts Academy. The Alexandra Township area of Johannesburg is similar to the area where the artist grew up. D. Githuki painted the piece during his first two weeks in South Africa, after attending a private pool party in the upscale area of Sandton. “Togetherness” is the artist first painting outside of the Mukuru kea Njenga Slums. It is also his first piece that does not contain all Kenyans, all Africans, or, all people of color.
“For six months now, we have served as an incubator for South African artists that have a special talent for creating great art.” said Denzil Sibanda of Denzil’s & Jo Art Gallery in Melville’s 27 Boxes.
“D. Githuki’s 18 piece collection gives us the opportunity to extend the walls of our gallery for the first time, to a Kenyan artist, and we are very excited about that!”
DID YOU KNOW?
Togetherness” can be viewed at: https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/TogethernessbyDGithuki-23280
Artist Walkabout will take place on Sunday, May 9th from 12noon – 4pm, and an up-and-coming young artists panel discussion.
“The Future of Art” and artist networking reception on will take place on Thursday, May 13th from 6pm – 9pm.
INFO SUPPLIED.
