House of Arts — Artist

James Maluki

Mixed Media Artist

I am a Nairobi-based visual artist working across diverse mediums including beadwork, acrylic portraiture, sculptural forms, murals, and abstract storytelling. My practice is rooted in a desire to explore identity, memory, and the ever-evolving African experience. Through the interplay of color theory and layered textures, I translate both personal and collective histories into visual form. Beads become carriers of memory, acrylic portraits breathe life into contemporary African identity, and sculptures inspired by guardianship and protection reflect communal resilience. My murals often transform public spaces into shared canvases, inviting dialogue and re-imagination of our surroundings. Childhood nostalgia forms a recurring thread in my work I often revisit fragments of memory, symbols, and forms that bridge innocence with lived realities. By blending traditional African elements with experimental approaches, I seek to create works that feel both familiar and futuristic, grounded in cultural heritage yet fluid in their ability to adapt to new contexts. Ultimately, my art is a vessel of connection weaving together color, texture, and narrative to spark conversations on who we are, where we come from, and the multiple ways we envision tomorrow