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Picture


       




Thom Ogonga

Quadranscentennial

25 year journey

Kenyan born Thom Ogonga is an artist who specialises in painting and printmaking. He is inspired by fashion, music, urban lifestyles and even more fascinated by interpersonal relationships.
Quadranscentennial represents a recently created body of work that explores some of the themes and processes the artist has enjoyed over his 25-year artistic journey.  Over this period, Ogonga has explored different artistic approaches and techniques while experimenting with different media and discovered that he enjoys creating two-dimensional works through drawing, painting and printmaking. These works plug into the artist’s general subjects of interest and  are a celebration of his Silver Jubilee as a practicing professional artist.
The paintings and limited-edition woodcut prints look at physical human interactions in different settings and spaces and non-verbal communication in everyday situations. They highlight the current trend in the Nairobi social scene of using electronic banners as a tool of marketing and messaging that is deployed mostly by the younger generation to disenfranchise certain demographics in a bid to bypass them as they negotiate sometimes contraband substances and illegal liaisons.
It is a playful representation of the sometimes precarious space that Nairobi is, often littered with substance abuse, excessive gambling and promiscuity, most of which is illegal but hidden in plain sight.
I need to go home, 2024 - MDF Board and process ink - 80 x 122 cm - Kshs 380 000
Garage Tavern ED 1/1, 2024 - Woodcut print on acid free paper - 95 x 70 cm - Kshs 200 000
I need to go home ED 1/2, 2024 - Woodcut print on acid free paper - 80 x 122 cm - Kshs 220 000
Nyar Migori, 2024 - Woodcut print on acid free paper - 95 x 70 cm - Kshs 160 000
The owner of car number ... Songesha car, 2024 - MDF Board and process ink - 122 x 62 cm - Kshs 250 000
The owner of car number ... Songesha car, ED 1/2, 2024 - Woodcut print on acid free paper - 122 x 62 cm - Kshs 180 000
Couple Goals, 2024 - Woodcut print on acid free paper, 150 x 100 cm - Kshs 325 000
Sunday School, 2024, Acrylic and Charcoal on canvas, 100 x 100 cm, Kshs 300 000
Finance Bill, 2024 - Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas, 70 x 70 cm, Kshs 150 000
Usitume Fare, 2024 - Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas, 99 x 79 cm, Kshs 280 000
Siku Njema Huanza Na Mechi, Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas, 70 x 70 cm, Kshs 150 000
Untitled I : Eat that Money, Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas, 100 x 100 cm, Kshs 350 000
Untitled II : Watu Wamelipwa?, 2024 - Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas, 90 x 115 cm, Kshs 400 000
Car Wash, 2024 - Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas, 70 x 140cm - Kshs 250 000



Artist's Statement

Born, bred, schooled, living and working in Nairobi city, I am interested in the daily happenings of the space I live in and even more fascinated by the nocturnal activities. All the things that color the night; bar brawls, disco scenes, gambling, prostitution among others, excite the artist in me and feature prominently in my artistic practice.

My work is very figurative and representative of a “typical night out in the city” and is most often satirical. It sheds light on the hypocritical culture of being “responsible citizens” during the day and the total opposite when the sun goes down.

I am also interested in identity and socio-political narratives and interrogation as sub-themes of my work, though on an individual project basis. These are mainly influenced by the political situation in my country; bad governance, cronyism, corruption and our lack of a clear identity as a result of being Africans strongly influenced by colonization, religion, western education and global consumerism.

Alongside my studio practice, I am also an independent curator interested in documenting the Kenyan Contemporary art scene through critical writing. My texts have featured in reputable publications globally; I self-publish on my personal blog – www.thealternativewriter.blogspot.com. I am the founder/creative director of Nairobi Contemporary – a critical artist led platform, commentating and contributing to the discourse of the regional art scene.

Thom Ogonga - Nairobi - 2024

Biography


Born (1975) in Nairobi – Kenya, Thom Ogonga is an artist specialising in painting and printmaking.

He is inspired by fashion, music, urban lifestyles and by the controversial city nightlife. All the activities that colour the night excite the artist in him and predominantly feature prominently as the theme of his work.

He has exhibited widely; featured in numerous public art projects and artist residencies, both locally and abroad.

He was awarded the 2nd prize in the painting category in the ‘Elysee Treaty Competition’ in 2006.




We Are Proud to Call Them Our Partners
One Off Gallery is indebted to the brilliant artists we represent

  • Home
    • Sculpture Garden
  • Exclusive Artists
    • Timothy Brooke
    • Peterson Kamwathi
    • Thom Ogonga
    • Richard Kimathi
    • Anthony Okello
    • Peter Ngugi
    • James Mbuthia
    • Florence Wangui
    • Ehoodi Kichapi
    • Elias Mung'ora
    • Patrick Karanja
    • Lisa Milroy
    • Harrison Mburu
    • Mark Lecchini
    • Mandy Bonnell
  • Current Exhibitions
    • Elias Mung'ora - The Descendants
  • Exhibition Archive
    • Olivia Pendergast - the light that we are
    • Silvester Mwangi - Pathless Path
    • Timothy Brooke - The Last Word
    • Baraka Shamia - Retribution
    • 50% SALE
    • Simon Muriithi - My Troubled Neighbour
    • Sian Daniel - Artistic Alchemy
    • Kahare Miano - Works in Progress
    • Florence Wangui - Where Do We Begin
    • Gallery Artists Series '24
    • Thom Ogonga - Quadranscential
    • Cyprian Rasto - Flowers, Sun and Rain
    • Beatrice Wanjiku - "We are Parlour Soldiers"
    • Talitha Puri Negri - Watching You, Watching Me
    • Peter Ngugi - Flying over the City
    • Rashid Amin - Endangered Echoes
    • Michael Soi - Massage Spa
    • Milena Eleonora Tys
    • Defining Moments - A Group Show
    • Munene Kariithi - Beyond
    • Baraka Shamia - Rows and Columns
    • Richard Kimathi - Local conversations
    • Lisa Milroy - Paper Safari
    • Patrick Karanja - Wormhole
    • Xavier Vehoest - Our Memories Can't Wait (For Palestine)
    • Print Studio
    • Naomi Van Rampelberg - Anxiety My Muse
    • Baldy Osborne
    • Margaret Ngigi
    • Mika Obanda
    • Mandy Bonnell: Fragile Stories
    • Elias Mung'ora - Mburoti Maguta Maguta
    • Geeta Singh - Ode to Nature
    • Soi: The Three Chapters
    • Exclusive Artist's Exhibition
    • 'Harmonious Intrigues' Metal Sculptures Exhibition by Meshack
    • Rashid Diab exhibition
    • Mark Lecchini - Meditations
    • Sebawali Sio: Blue Gold Series
    • Yony Waite
    • Patrick Karanja
    • Baraka Shamia
  • About and Visiting
    • Contact