Kuona trust is currently not accepting any residency applications
Since 1997, Kuona has engaged in international exchange through residency programmes and workshops. The main objectives of these programmes are to develop new links and existing networks of international contact and exchange between artists from East Africa and other regions and further intercultural communication, information and understanding, whilst also empowering local people to be active within art by exposing new and different communities to the diverse work of local and international artists;
AND To nurture growth and positive change among East African artists through the sharing of skills with international counterparts in environments conducive to art making at the highest levels;
So far, Kuona Trust has held 10 residency programmes, where twenty artists of from the developing world have participated. The artists in the residencies were recruited on the basis of the proven, outstanding quality of their artwork, the personal qualities which would make them suitable for the closeness of the residence experience, and their track-record of public art making projects. Of this, during the first five weeks they lived and worked side by side in a house and informal studios. During this period, the artists were encouraged to make their own art, to explore new directions and ideas and to interact together in the perfect seclusion of Lake Naivasha/ Athi River. Through a grant from the Ford Foundation, Kuona provided all art materials, tools as well as food and accommodation. Artists who have participated in the Programme are:
1st International Artists Residency Programme
As well as introduce a new concept of art making to the maximum number of lives. The target of this phase of the residency Programme is to engage a new audience in a relationship with art and art-making, either through direct involvement in art making, or more simply by taking art out of the gallery and to the people
Claudette Schreuders- South Africa
during her public, she erected a wooden life-sized sculpture of a security guard outside the Uchumi supermarket along Aga Khan Walk one of the city's busiest pedestrian walks. The large figure, which is dressed as a modern day security guard has a little carved figure dressed as a traditional warrior
Jackson Wanjau - Kenya
realized a monumental sculpture in concrete within the grounds of the National museums of Kenya.
The work, called 'The Sculptor' is a call to hard work and determination
Stanford Watson - Jamaica
painted murals with underprivileged children in sections of Nairobi where art is never seen.
Vasudha Thozur - India
set up studio at Kenyatta Market, a few kilometers outside Nairobi's city centre. She offered free sign-writing services to proprietors of the stalls around the large market.
The four artists-in-residency also worked with the support of Kuona Trust and teams of artists from the museum art studio to realized projects that could have the maximum impact on the Nairobi population,
2nd International Artists Residency Programme
Atta Kwami - Ghana
At Lake Naivasha, Kwami realized a series of Clearfield paintings of captivating beauty that made them enchanting even to the unschooled eye. The paintings were all untitled, inviting the observer to create their own interpretations
Kizito Maria Kasule- Uganda
He created numerous experimental paintings that explored ideas of figure and color. He also painted several landscapes of the lakeside
Mona Marzouk - Egypt
While at Lake Naivasha, Marzouk used simple two and three color palettes to paint 2D representations of intrinsically 3D objects
Nitaya Uaeworakul - Thailand
Her work at Lake Naivasha, 'Sing in Unison' was a large three dimensional piece in which she used paper and thorns from the local Acacia tree to signify a dance.
3rd International Artists Residency Programme
Four renowned international artists from the non-industrial world, were invited to create and work together in exclusion for 4 weeks at Athi River, a few kilometers from Nairobi. They were provided with materials, accommodation and a beautiful and inspiring setting in which to produce new work.
Behailu Bezabih - Ethiopia
Art instructor at the Bethel Maknel Yesus (American Mission School), Addis Ababa. Professes a great passsion for life and ordinary people. Attempts to capture this using vivid imagery and bold colour. He says that "art should be like going down a stairway where the last step is missing".
Mali Wu - Taiwan
Has had numerous solo and group exhibitions since the mid-80s in Taipei, Japan, Australia, Italy and New York. She is currently working on a series of works with the working title of 'Sweeties of the Century' parts of which have been exhibited at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan
Morris Foit - Kenya
Has carved wood for twenty years. Has participated in international workshops and residencies including, Wasanii and Bushglass in Kenya, Ngoma in Uganda
Rehab El-Sadek - Egypt
Studied art in the Alexandria Fine Arts University. Has exhibited in Egypt and abroad.Recent winner: Installation prize, Cairo artists salon. In recent work she choses particular media to capture the real spirit of people. Her work addresses issues of culture, value and the environment.
4th international artist’s residency
Ugwechuku Smooth – Nigeria
Created a light installation that consisted of bricks made with wire and light bulbs in every brick. He also conducted a series of talks with design students at the University of Nairobi
Tim Curtis - United States
Is an artist who works on large scale in public places. During his residency, he did a public project in the slum of Mathare called beacon of hope where he engaged the public in building a huge tree that was fitted with small mirrors and planted on the highest point in the slum where the mirrors would reflect light and everyone in the slum would see it.
Yukinori Yamamura- Japan
Is an artist who also works in public spaces. This was his first time in Africa and his work centered on a performance which he did at the Godown Arts Centre where he improvised a tea kiosk, made tea and mandazis and served it to the guests who came for the exhibition opening
5th international artist’s residency
Cora Arnoutse Holland
Is a film graduate from Holland who went to film school in Brussels. Her work during the residency included life sized digital prints of a uniformed guard that represented the bravery of the night guards here in Kenya
Her public project was done in the slums of Nairobi with children from Rhino Care Youth training centre where she conducted a workshop on perspective drawing. She also did basic training on how to use a digital video camera and produced a 20 minute video with the youth featuring their day to day life.
Theresa musoke Uganda
Theresa is one of the most celebrated East African female artists. During her residency, she worked on paintings depicting the diversity of Kenyan wildlife. Being a master printer, she conducted a printing workshop at the
GoDown which was attended by young and upcoming artists in Nairobi. Theresa conducted a workshop with the children of the Rudolf Steiner School in Kitengela. The school is one of the Rudolf Steiner School in Kitengela. The school is one that combines pupils from poor and rich families and the children were excited to study with Theresa that combines pupils from poor and rich families and the children were excited to study with Theresa.
Philip dontsov the Russian federation
Is a graphic designer by training and his work during the residency here was interesting. He has traveled extensively and he works with materials found locally wherever he is initially, he worked on sculptures made of polythene, before concentrating on a video animation that explored the question of separation and individualism versus connection. His public project was conducting a series of talks and presentations at the GoDown on Russian art over the years.
Justus kyalo
Kenyan artist Justus Kyalo is one of the leading second generation of Kenyan artists. The residency provided him with an opportunity to experiment with charcoal, digital photography and dance all at the same time.
His public project was a workshop on drawing with kids who are also interested in contemporary dance
6th international artists residency
Maria Buchner-Australia
Stephen Ngaranganga-Zimbabwe
Graham Hudson-The united kingdom
Beatrice Njoroge-Kenya
The sixth international artists residency ended on the 18th of October with the above named artists. Beatrice is a painter while Stephen is traditionally a sculptor but this time round worked on 2d sculpture and did painting during the residency.
Maria is a conceptual artist who did an installation that involved passing water on a chest of drawers using a water pump.
Graham did an installation of wooden blocks that was fitted with light bulbs.