Kaloki Nyamai at the Corderia dell’Arsenal in Venice, 2026 Biennale

The works of Kaloki Nyamai, originally from Kenya, reflect his experience of contemporary East Africa, its contradictions, the violence and the various crises that are shaking the region.

Kaloki Nyamai, Corderia dell'Arsenal, Venice Biennale 2026

Kaloki Nyamai Her perspective on Africa is expressed through her paintings as a series of tragic observations, but also as a source of hope.

For, whatever difficulties may lie ahead, a mother’s love as she cradles her baby in her arms remains the most powerful force, as the artist shows us in his beautiful painting ‘Kana Kakwa’.

“Kana Kakwa”, or the radiant love of a mother speaking to her child, wrapped in a magnificent yellow cloth that unites them and shields them from the violence of a crowd of angry adults raising their fists behind them.

The large canvases he is exhibiting at the Corderia dell’Arsenale in Venice show us oppression, powerlessness, bodies that are nothing more than heads or limbs, and torn societies.

These works are both oppressive and beautiful, thanks to the message they convey and the great talent of this artist.

Two other works by Kaloki Nyamai are on display at the central pavilion in the Giardini.

Kaloki Nyamai