Afrikanizm | Onyis Martin – Kenyan Contemporary Artist Exploring Memory – Page 2

"My work centres on contemporary urban environments and how these spaces are shaped by the politics of ownership and access, movement and displacement, and how they contain some form of collective memory."

MEET

Onyis Martin

Onyis Martin (b. 1987, Kenya) is a Nairobi-based contemporary artist working across painting, sculpture, installation, and more recently, video art. Deeply engaged with the politics of urban life, migration, ownership, and memory, Martin’s practice examines how contemporary cities shape — and are shaped by — displacement, restricted movement, and collective trauma.

After leaving Aquinas Secondary School in 2006, Martin trained at Mukuru Art and Craft Centre, Nairobi, graduating in 2010. He also holds training in neurolinguistic programming and family constellation therapy, an influence that subtly informs the psychological dimensions of his work.

His mixed-media artworks and installations often incorporate repurposed materials, visual codes, and layered textures that mimic the complexities of informal cityscapes. Through this aesthetic, Martin offers poignant reflections on the fragility and resilience of marginalised communities navigating rapid urban transformation.

Martin has exhibited widely across Africa and internationally, including:

Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town (2019) – Still Tomorrow to High Five You Yesterday

ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg (2018)

Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, Adelaide, Australia (2018)

Residencies: Bag Factory (South Africa, 2017), Asiko Art School (2016), The Factory Lamu (2016), Ostrale (Germany, 2015)

In 2017, he won First Prize for Merit at the prestigious ABSA L’Atelier Award, cementing his position as a rising voice in African contemporary art.

Martin’s work continues to resonate globally as he blends personal memory, socio-political critique, and layered visual language to question who controls space, movement, and meaning in the modern African city.

FROM OUR BLOGUE

Rooted in Africa: Ciara, Ludacris & Idris Elba Reclaim Their Heritage

Ciara, Ludacris, and Idris Elba are among a growing wave of global artists reconnecting with their African roots. Through official citizenships and cultural investments, they are not only reclaiming identity but also reshaping narratives, strengthening ties between the diaspora and the continent, and amplifying the cultural value of belonging.

Zara Welcomes Ghanaian Artist Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe in Stunning Accra‑Inspired Capsule

Zara has announced a groundbreaking capsule collaboration with Ghanaian painter Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe. Featuring 16 curated looks—from vibrant embroidered trousers to statement T‑shirts and accessories—the collection channels Quaicoe’s signature palette and reflects the energy, history and spirit of Accra. This partnership not only broadens visibility for African artists but underscores the growing influence of contemporary African art in global fashion and culture.

The Vanguard: 10 Visionary African Artists Changing the Art World

From Afrofuturistic photography to socio-political painting, contemporary African artists are redefining the global art scene. This list features ten artists whose work is vital, visionary, and deeply rooted in cultural identity, memory, and innovation.

Paula Nascimento Named Co‑Curator of Sharjah Biennial 17 (2027 Edition)

Paula Nascimento, an architect and independent curator based in Luanda, has been announced as co-curator of Sharjah Biennial 17 (January 2027), working in tandem with Berlin-based professor Angela Harutyunyan. Their collaboration promises an experimental, critically engaged biennial grounded in shared histories and global reflections.

Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) Poised to Transform Nigeria’s Cultural Landscape

The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City opens in November 2025 as a major cultural hub. The first stage features the new research-focused MOWAA Institute, alongside its inaugural exhibition Nigeria Imaginary: Homecoming. Designed by Adjaye Associates, the campus includes galleries, labs, performance spaces, and houses newly repatriated Benin Bronzes and contemporary artworks by Nigerian creators.

The Baobab and the Bronze: Rómulo Santa Rita’s Artistic Tribute to Cosal

For the third year in a row, Rómulo Santa Rita was chosen to design Grupo Cosal’s annual cover—this time crafting “Embondeiro,” a bronze sculpture inspired by a poem by Manuel Rui Monteiro. Featuring topographic reliefs of Kamacupa, the piece symbolises rootedness, artistic collaboration, and the deep connection between land, memory, and identity.

Sarasota Art Museum Spotlights Contemporary Black Artists in Celebrated Exhibitions

The Sarasota Art Museum’s ongoing 2025 exhibitions celebrate contemporary Black creativity with immersive works and a touring showcase featuring prints, quilts, sculptures, and installations by major names such as Martin Puryear, Kerry James Marshall, Gee’s Bend Quilters, and Lillian Blades. Through these transformative exhibitions, SAM continues to support artists illuminating stories of heritage, identity, and reflection.

Relooted: A Digital Escape Toward Cultural Justice

Relooted, launching later in 2025, is a puzzle-platform video game where players infiltrate Western museums to recover colonial-era African artifacts. Using stealth gameplay inspired by parkour and set in an Afrofuturistic near‑future, the game reflects the reality that 90% of Sub‑Saharan African cultural heritage is held outside the continent.

View All