Michael Soi
Born: 1972, Nairobi, Kenya
A Kenyan artist known for his incisive commentary on socio-political issues affecting everyday Kenyans. Studied fine art and art history before joining Kuona Trust in 1995, marking the beginning of his career.
Soi’s work is celebrated for its bold interrogation of hypocrisy, corruption, and other sensitive topics often avoided in public discourse. Operating from his studio at the Godown
Art Centre in Nairobi, he has established a reputation for creating art that challenges and provokes thought.
Throughout his career, Soi has participated in numerous art residencies across the globe, including in South Africa, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.
His art has been exhibited internationally, with shows in Japan, South Korea, Uganda, the United States, Switzerland, Denmark and France.
Relevant Studies
Fine art and art history 1990-1993
Selected Group Exhibitions
Complicated socialization- Goethe Institute, Nairobi, Kenya - 1999
Africa- Salt Lake City, Utah, USA - 1999
Kenya Museum Arts Festival - Nairobi, Kenya
Kenyan Art Exhibition - Five Myles Gallery, Brooklyn, New York - 2004
Home- French Cultural and Co-Operation Center, Nairobi, Kenya
Spirit of Friendship - Midlands Art Center, Birmingham, United Kingdom - 2003
South Africa National Gallery- Cape Town, South Africa - 2002
Stereotypes - Kuona Trust Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya - 2010
The Johannesburg Art Fair - 2010
The Kampala Art Biennale - 2014
Selected 2 Person Exhibitions
Sex and the City 1 with John Kamicha and Thom Ogong, Alliance Francaise, Nairobi, Kenya
Untitled with Thom Ogonga, One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
Habari 1 with Yasir Ali, Artion, Art Space, Seoul, South Korea - 2014
Habari 2 with Yasir Ali, DDP Plaza, Seoul, South Korea - 2014
Sex and the City 2, Alliance Francaise, Nairobi, Kenya - 2015
Sex and the City 3 Alliance Francaise, Nairobi, Kenya - 2016
Almost True with Bright Ackwerh Gallery 1957, Accra, Ghana - 2018
Sex and the City 4 with Thom Ogonga, Alliance Francaise, Nairobi, Kenya - 2019
Sex and the City with Thom Ogonga, Alliance Francaise, Nairobi, Kenya - 2020
Solo Exhibitions
Motherboard 2, Galerie Le Sud, Zürich, Switzerland - 2019
Motherboard 1, Circle Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya - 2017
Social Circles 1, Afriart gallery, Kampala, Uganda - 2014
All the Women in my Life, Circle Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya - 2017
Untitled, Bunkamura Box Gallery, Tokyo, Japan - 2016
China Loves Africa 1, Circle Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya - 2019
Kenyan Pop Art, Bankamura Box Gallery, Tokyo, Japan - 2017
Michael Soi Exhibition, Sakaimachi Gallery, Kyoto, Japan - 2021
Michael Soi 2022 Exhibition, Bunkamura Wall Gallery, Tokyo, Japan - 2022
Untitled Exhibition, Sakaimachi Gallery, Kyoto, Japan - 2023
Relevant Projects
Coordinator Wasanii International Artists Workshop - 2000,2004,2006,2008
Coordinator International Artist’s Residency in Kenya - 2002,2003,2004,2006
Selected International Workshops and Residencies
Africa’s Out, Deniston Hill Residency, New York, United states
Aftershave International Artists Workshop, Jos, Nigeria
Abro International Artist’s Workshop, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Triangle International Artist’s Workshop, New York, United States
Fonty’s Academy Artist in Residence, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Insaka International Artists Workshop, Lusaka, Zambia
Vivid Media Artist in Residence, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Thupelo International Artists Workshop, Cape Town, South Africa
Brazier’s International Artist’s Workshop, Ipsden, United Kingdom
Wasanii International Artist’s Workshop, Naivasha, Kenya
Fordsburg Artist in residence (bag factory), Johannesburg, South Africa
First International Residence Programme, Naivasha, Kenya
Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul, South Korea
Almost True, Accra, Ghana