With Sarah Shiundu in Nairobi after a nice lunch at the Sarit Center
Sarah Shiundu with her best friend and wonderful artist Martin Bulinya
Update: 8 March 2013 – Sadly, our friend Sarah Shiundu passed away this morning. She had been sick and battling for some time – she fought a brave fight.
In Sarah’s short life she fulfilled many dreams – one of which was to become an artist. Her creative drive opened up an entirely new way to express herself – her mixed-media paintings are wonderfully unique. When one sees them they are easily identified as Sarah’s work. Her talents will live on – and we will all miss her.
It is a pleasure to have another female artist on our website! I met Sarah through one of our most popular artists on this website, Martin Bulinya. I was excited to promote this new artist as the art scene in Kenya is dominated by men and I saw this as an opportunity for both Sarah, and myself, to bring the creativity and artwork of a woman to the forefront.
Sarah is well-traveled in Kenya – born in Kakamega, schooled in Mombasa, and now living on the outskirts of Nairobi in Ngong. She went to the Star of the Sea School as a youngster where she first discovered her interest in the arts – she was only 8 years old at the time. She continued her education at the School and Mukuma Girls School in Mombasa, graduating in 1986. She graduated university in 1988 with a BA in Design. Afterwards she began practicing on her own and also taught at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communications. In 1995 she began working at the Kenya Broadcasting Company (KBC), where she met fellow artist Bulinya.
She jokes that she is a Luhya living with the Maasai in Ngong, and attributes the beautiful landscape of Ngong, and the Maasai that pass through her area, as her main creative influences these days. One of the most exciting aspects of Sarah’s paintings is the incorporation of feathers and fabrics into her paintings. As seen below, the Maasai shukas in the paintings is authentic Maasai shuka material, as well, there are banana leaves and feathers adhered to the paintings giving them three-dimensional look and feel (which is actually very difficult to capture in digital images). I have briefly noted below the painting details if there is any media other than paint.
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| Title: Joy Dance 1 Dimensions: 3″ x 9.5″ (8 x 24cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper Price: $50 |
Title: Joy Dance 2 Dimensions: 3″ x 9.5″ (8 x 24cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper Price: $50 |
Title: Nearing Manyatta Dimensions: 6″ x 9″ (16 x 23cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper (Traditional Maasai Shuka) Price: $85 |
Title: Someday Dimensions: 6″ x 9″ (16 x 23cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper (Traditional Maasai Shuka) Price: $85 |
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| Title: Maasai Ladies Heading Home Dimensions: 6.5″ x 9″ (17 x 23cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper (Traditional Maasai Shuka) Price: $85 |
Title: Gathering Water Dimensions: 6.5″ x 8.5″ (17 x 22cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper (Traditional Maasai Shuka) Price: $85 |
Title: Out Standing Dimensions: 6″ x 4″ (15 x 10cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper Price: $50 |
Title: As Told by Ol Maa II Dimensions: 2.5″ x 6″ (7 x 15cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper Price: $35 |
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| Title: On the way to Ekidong Dimensions: 2.5″ x 6″ (7 x 15cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper Price: $35 |
Title: 1557 Dimensions: 3″ x 6″ (8 x 15cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper Price: $35 |
Title: Respect for the Elders Dimensions: 4″ x 6″ (10 x 15cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper Price: $50 |
Title: Two Sisters Dimensions: 2″ x 6″ (11 x 15cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper Price: $30 |
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| Title: 1566 Dimensions: 6″ x 9″ (9 x 23cm) Medium: Mixed media on paper Price: $90 |
Title: S277 Dimensions: 6″ x 8.5″ (16 x 21cm) Medium: Mixed Media on paper Price: $85 |
Title: S275 Dimensions: 6″ x 8.5″ (16 x 21cm) Medium: Mixed Media on paper Price: $85 |
Title: Morans Dimensions: 6.5″ x 19″ (17 x 49cm) Medium: Watercolor on paper Price: $85 |
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| Title: Moran Dimensions: 4.5″ x 19″ (12 x 49cm) Medium: Watercolor on paper Price: $75 |
Title: S276 Dimensions: 6″ x 8.5″ (16 x 21cm) Medium: Mixed Media on paper Price: $85 |
Title: A Lover and a Darling Dimensions: 6.5″ x 19″ (17 x 49cm) Medium: Watercolor on paper Price: $85 |
Title: SS46 Dimensions: 6.5″ x 11.75″ Medium: Watercolor on paper Price: $125 This painting incorporated the fabric of the Maasai, the shuka, for a unique multi-media experience. Truly an original idea! |
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| Title: S270 Dimensions: 4.5″ x 12.5″ (11 x 32cm) Medium: Mixed Media on paper Price: $120 |
Title: SS51 Dimensions: 6″ x 16.75″ Medium: Watercolor on paper Price: $140 This painting incorporated the fabric of the Maasai, the shuka, for a unique multi-media experience. Truly an original idea! |
Title: S274 Dimensions: 3.5″ x 8.5″ (9 x 21cm) Medium: Acrylic on paper Price: $60 |
If you are interested in any of Sarah Shiundu’s paintings, you can Make an Offer by using the Contact Page or by emailing me at: todd@insideafricanart.com. Or, better yet, go to the Purchasing Page to make a purchase!
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