The Narrative Charcoal Art of Nadia Wamunyu

At the age of 3, most of us were figuring out why dad and mum had bought those water colours for us. But not for charcoal artist Nadia Wanjiru Wamunyu; who from the age of 3, when her mother Buthaina bought her first water colors; has never thought of putting her paint brush down.

After a misdiagnosis, Nadia lost her hearing ability but she being a fighter has never allowed that to hamper her developments as a visual artist. Inspired by Patrick Mukabi’s art show on TV while in high school, Nadia went looking for Patrick at the Go Down Arts Centre in Nairobi and that is where her passion matured.

She would spend her holidays with Patrick at the Go Down. She had to learn with other aspiring artists since Patrick, being a noble creative, would never turn away any aspiring artist showing potential.

Taking a different route, the artistic Nadia, with her hearing aid, who has never wanted anyone to pity her, worked hard and decided to put her all in the charcoal art. What she produced was art that spoke soulfully.

Her major break that started to open many door for her was when she won the first prize in the 2013 Manjano Nairobi County Art Festival. That would mark her exhibiting journey; from the Alliance Francaise, to the British Council, market malls to the National Museums of Kenya- her art vibrancy disrupted the city.

But our city was not her boundary; she went ahead to exhibit recently at the Lamu Festival after an invite from Herbert Menzer.

At 22, this disruptive visual artist is not planning to stop anytime soon. She plans to disrupt our art scene soulfully with her charcoal art that tells a narrative with each stroke.

Photo Credit: Margaretta wa Gacheru