Sarah Shiundu

Sarah and Todd

With Sarah Shiundu in Nairobi after a nice lunch at the Sarit Center

Bulinya and Sarah

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.

 Shiundu - Joy Dance  Shiundu - Joy Dance2  Shiundu - Nearing Manyatta  Shiundu - Someday
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
 Shiundu - Maasai Ladies Head Home  Shiundu - Gathering Water  Shiundu - 1552  Shiundu - 1554
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
 Shiundu - 1556  Shiundu - 1557  Shiundu - 1558  Shiundu - 1559
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
 Shiundu - 1566  Shiundu - 277  Shiundu - 275  
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
   Shiundu - 276    
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!
     Shiundu - 274
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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