Wangari Mathenge


Wangari Mathenge is a contemporary visual artist based in Nairobi, Kenya; Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom; and Chicago, Illinois. Her multidisciplinary practice includes painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, animation, and installation. Her work explores African identity and culture, focusing on the experiences of Black women and reimagining the domestic sphere as a site of empowerment.

Education

Mathenge earned her MFA in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2021. She previously studied at Howard University and Georgetown University Law Center, where she specialized in International Business and Economic Law.

Artistic practice

Mathenge's paintings are characterized by intricate patterns and bold colors, drawing inspiration from East African textiles such as the Khanga. Her work incorporates cultural objects to explore gender roles and celebrate Black female identity across the African continent and diaspora.

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

Selected group exhibitions

Public collections

Mathenge's work is held in several institutional collections, including:

Publications and media coverage

Mathenge's work has been featured in major art publications and media outlets:The New York Times : "100 Years of How Black Painters See Themselves"African Art Now by Osei Bonsu, Octopus Publishing GroupGreat Women Painters, edited by Alison Gingeras, Phaidon Press