Peter Ngugi
Flying Over the City
Flying Over the City
The show is a celebration of different forms of freedom. My area of focus is culture, religion and politics. It's an observation of the shift from the traditional to a contemporary and more liberal approach to these three aspects of society.
The Kanga is a colourful East African fabric which holds a significant role in culture, politics and religion within the region. It is widely used to convey messages through the messages on the fabric, which are always in the Swahili language. It has been included in many traditional and cultural ceremonies like weddings and bridal ceremonies. The Kanga has also been used to convey political messages during campaigns as well as to pass religious messages to the masses. For these significant roles, I've placed it as the center piece of my composition in this body of works. The wind and movement of the fabric represent change and dynamism.
Flying over the city is a journey to greater heights without the restrictive expectations of the city below. With an open mind and open arms, the model takes off to conquer new heights.
Peter Ngugi - July 2024 - Nairobi, Kenya
Peter Ngugi (Born 1978) is a Kenyan contemporary visual artist. His best-known works are
the large-scale oil on canvas portraits. The works feature full size figures dressed in African
contemporary fashion. They are portraits of real, everyday people. The portraits lack facial
features and are rendered as silhouettes. These real characters appear in fictitious
compositions and imagined utopias. Contemporary African fabric is a common feature in
Peter's compositions. This is deliberately employed in the narration of an African story. The
work interrogates the relevance of telling these stories to the world. Peter Ngugi is a self-
taught artist. He has actively practiced since 1998 and has taken part in many solo and group
exhibitions. His work is featured in both private and public collections. Peter has also taken
part in many residency programs and workshops. His work has also been featured in books
and art journals.
BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION
• Peter Ngugi was born in Nairobi, Kenya. He was educated in Mugumoini Primary
School (1984 - 1992) and Nyeri High School (1993 - 1996).
• Peter worked as a salesman for a shoe company (1997 - 1998).
• His art career started in 1998. Peter Ngugi works and lives in Thika, Kenya.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
• 2023: Joint exhibition. Mongofre, Menorca, Spain.
• 2018: Africa Is Not A Country; Showcase Gallery, Dubai. United Arab Emirates.
• 2018: Recent Works Exhibition; One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya.
• 2018: Fanta Orange Na Mkate Nusu; One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya.
• 2018: African Contemporary Art Exhibition.
• Art CN Gallery, Shanghai, China.
• 2017: Visual Voices Exhibition; Zen Garden, Nairobi, Kenya.
• 2016: Taking A Stand; 6 Spin Street Restaurant, Cape Town, South Africa.
• 2016: Recent Works Exhibition; One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya.
• 2015: Still Clocks of Lamu; Lamu Island, Kenya.
• 2013: Pigs of Thika Town. Solo Exhibition; One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya.
• 2009: Solo Exhibition; Africa Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea.
• 2008: Solo Exhibition; Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya.
• 2006: Solo Exhibition. Images From Africa. University of Kentucky, U.S.A.
• 2005: Solo Exhibition. Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art. Nairobi, Kenya.
• 2002: Solo Exhibition. Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art. Nairobi, Kenya.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• 2023 I & M Bank Art Experience
• Art Lamu 2017, Dirk Rose, Herbert Menzer
• Cover & Page 94-103
• Visual Voices.2017. Susan Wakhungu Githuku: page 454-461
• The Gikuyu Homestead. National Museums of Kenya, 2000 Publication.
• Art Wave Korea 2009-2010: Page 68-72
• The Know Zone Children TV Programme. Animation illustrations. 2005-2010.
FELLOWSHIP
• 2022: Wangechi Mutu Studio Writers and Artists Travel Fellowship to Venice Biennale.
COLLECTIONS
• Under The Kahawa Tree. Interactive public sculpture: The Hub Mall, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya. 2016.
• Public sculpture, Shell Petroleum: Vivo Energy Kenya. 2017.
• Commercial Bank of Africa.
• Gertrude's Garden Childrens' Hospital.
• East African Visual Arts Trust
• Crown Plaza, Upper hill Nairobi, Kenya.
• Ruth Hunt Wood Collection, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Embassy of Belgium, Nairobi, Kenya.
• State House, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Mongofre Art Collection, Menorca, Spain.
RESIDENCIES
• 2008: University of Kentucky, KY, U.S.A.
• 2015: Lamu Art Festival, Lamu, Kenya.
• 2017: Lamu Art Festival, Lamu, Kenya.
• 2023: Mongofre Art Residency, Menorca Spain.