Muthoni Mwangi, a Nairobi-based visual artist, meticulously creates collage pieces that tell stories of her journey, allowing the audience to reflect on theirs. Muthoni’s subjects are mainly women with themes centered on mental health and human connections. We sat down with the artist at Kobo Trust, where she works, to unravel more about her intuitive, artistic expressions.
Anjellah Owino: How did you get into creating art?
Muthoni Mwangi: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I had worked at a law firm for six years, with no idea I could paint. I bought canvases and paints nonetheless to kick off my painting career. I began by working from home, and experimenting on my own before I could ask for help. The first piece I made after following a YouTube tutorial, which I reveled in the feeling of, was a geometry art on my walls. After some time, a friend introduced me to his artist friend and I would go to art spaces like Kobo Trust and Kuona Trust to network and found myself here at Kobo Trust. The thing is, when you are not in the art scene you wouldn’t know what goes on therefore I didn’t have any information about the art scene before. My knowledge about art was limited to what I saw on the streets.
Courtesy of the Artist
Courtesy of the Artist
Anjellah Owino: Most artists experiment with different styles and materials before finding a niche. What was your path like until you settled on collage art?
Muthoni Mwangi: Definitely. I tried everything I saw other artists doing, from sculpting, painting, and woodwork and they all left me unfulfilled. Someone introduced me to collage art two years ago and I instantly knew this is what I wanted to do. Collage to me is the freedom to have fun while intuitively creating absurd and distorted images. Even though there are not many Kenyan collage artists as references, my patience, self-trust, and ability to ask for help kept me going.
Courtesy of the Artist
Courtesy of the Artist
Anjellah Owino: How do you begin your creative process?
Muthoni Mwangi: I get my crystals, a cup of tea or coffee, and an Erykah Badu playlist on repeat. I’m a collector of magazines, so I begin my process by flipping through magazines and letting my intuition guide me on what images to cut using a blade. While I favour fabric, images of shoes and plants, and taking pictures of myself for silhouettes, I don’t have a fixed idea of what I’ll get as a final piece.
Anjellah Owino: What are some of the influences of your creative process?
Muthoni Mwangi: If a child is given dismantled body parts and told to create what they want, they won’t recreate another person. They’ll create what they want with little care about sales or what’s popular but on what excites them. It is with this same approach, that of connecting with my inner child during my artistic process, that I take. Also, I get inspiration from Pinterest and fellow artists whenever I’m working from the studio. They are good at working on backgrounds, figures, composition, and colour and I seek advice from them.
Courtesy of the Artist
Courtesy of the Artist
Anjellah Owino: What messages do you want to convey in your art?
Muthoni Mwangi: All my pieces are from my own experiences what is good or bad as they make me who I am as a person. Our personal experiences may differ but there is a collective essence of those experiences. My artwork Paradox is about the process of self-actualization. It also explains both contrasting identities as a calm and wild person. I want my pieces to show both chaos and peace as it is with the self-actualization process. Moreover, I create what I want. The more an artist tries to impress an audience, the more mistakes they make with their craft. An artist needs to build a connection with themselves to connect with others.
Anjellah Owino: How do you deal with creative blockages?
Muthoni Mwangi: Art creation comes with fatigue which causes creative standstill. Incorporating rest into my routine has made it easier for me to give my best in my craft.
Anjellah Owino: How do you keep yourself grounded as an artist?
Muthoni Mwangi: Art-making is a spiritual experience like collecting crystals and manifesting. Spirituality guides and protects me. When creating, I don’t wonder about who is going to buy it or where my art is going to go. I am grounded in the belief that everything is working out already. I have walked blindly yet things are working out.
Anjellah Owino: What challenges have you faced in your work?
Muthoni Mwangi: Some critics tried to convince me to change my artistic style to suit a narrative of how my work should be to be successful in the industry. I believe in constructive criticism, probably from a collage artist who shares my experience. I have learned to be patient enough to trust the process rather than settle for anything else. As an artist, I am in control. Another challenge is that I have met some gallerists or art industry players who wanted to take advantage of me.
Anjellah Owino: What exhibitions have you participated in?
Muthoni Mwangi: Group exhibitions, “Shifting Tides” curated by Kobo artists at Kobo Trust, “Unbound” at Village Market curated by Thadde Tewa, an open studio event at Marula Manor in Karen alongside fellow visual artist Carol Mbirua, and another open studio at Kobo Trust. What I enjoy about exhibitions is the opportunity to share and hear the views of those who love my work.
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Masi
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Masi
Anjellah Owino: Art making is, for the most part, a solitary experience. Are there any other social hobbies that you indulge in?
Muthoni Mwangi: Certainly. I connect with nature by taking walks in Karura Forest, Ngong Hills. Going to cafes, malls, and cinemas, and trying out new things are my favourite indulgences.