NCAI

NCAI Established in 2020, the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI) is a non-profit visual art space dedicated to the growth of contemporary art in East Africa.

Yesterday, we spent our Friday afternoon at the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute bookclub where Thayu Kilili led work...
20/06/2026

Yesterday, we spent our Friday afternoon at the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute bookclub where Thayu Kilili led workshop on AR based off of our concert in a book "This is not a Book".

The session featured some beautiful and creative humans learning how to make paper come alive using collage, Canva and some AI tools.

Thank you to NCAI for having us and Bukonola for thinking of us!

Installation view of ‘Tabula Rasa,’ Peterson Kamwathi’s ongoing exhibition at the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute.Thr...
19/06/2026

Installation view of ‘Tabula Rasa,’ Peterson Kamwathi’s ongoing exhibition at the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute.

Through a compelling body of drawings, paintings, and mixed-media works, ‘Tabula Rasa’ reflects on memory, identity, power, and the ways individuals and societies are shaped by the histories they inherit and the choices they make.

Bringing together new and recent works, the exhibition invites viewers into a space of reflection, questioning, and dialogue around the complexities of contemporary life.

🗓 On view until 23 August 2026
📍 3rd Floor, Rosslyn Riviera Mall
🎟 Entry: FREE

📚 ✨ Welcome to another bookish and art-full conversation at the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI)!This month, we...
14/06/2026

📚 ✨ Welcome to another bookish and art-full conversation at the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI)!

This month, we're excited to host award-winning storyteller, cultural strategist, and creative technologist Thayu Kilili, founder of Creatives Garage, for an exploration of AI, Augmented Reality (AR), and the future of literary and visual storytelling.

Together, we'll dive into 'This Is Not a Book—It's an Experience', a publication by Creatives Garage that challenges conventional ideas of reading and invites participants to engage with storytelling through emerging technologies. Learn about the publication's design process and discover how AI and AR tools can be used to create immersive literary and visual experiences.

Thayu's practice is rooted in social impact, artistic experimentation, and the belief that technology can serve as a creative co-pilot. Through bold explorations of new tools and mediums, he continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art-making and storytelling.

No previous experience in creative writing, visual arts, or technology is required—just curiosity and a willingness to explore.

⛔ Spaces are limited. Sign up via this link: https://forms.gle/wi3A4G6q4YDgp1fC6 to secure your spot. The registration form will close once all the available slots are filled.

📆 Date: Friday, 19 June 2026
🕜 Time: 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Location: Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI)

14/06/2026

Here are some moments from the opening reception of ‘Tabula Rasa’, the ongoing solo exhibition by Peterson Kamwathi at the NCAI.

‘Tabula Rasa’ remains on view until 23 August 2026.

Visit us, spend time with the exhibition, engage with the work and be part of the ongoing conversation.

Join us on Saturday, 13 June 2026, from 2 pm, for the first exhibition walkabout of Tabula Rasa, Peterson Kamwathi's ong...
08/06/2026

Join us on Saturday, 13 June 2026, from 2 pm, for the first exhibition walkabout of Tabula Rasa, Peterson Kamwathi's ongoing exhibition at NCAI.

This guided session invites visitors to engage with the exhibition through 'The Wretched of the Earth' by Frantz Fanon, a landmark text that informed many of the ideas explored within the exhibition. Together, we will examine how historical narratives are constructed, whose voices are amplified or silenced, and how these histories continue to shape contemporary realities.

The walkabout will be led by artists Brian Kimani and Kelvin Nzioka, who have been reading and discussing the text alongside Peterson Kamwathi. Through conversation, reflection, and close looking, participants will gain fresh perspectives on the exhibition and the questions it raises about memory, power, violence, and identity.

📅 Saturday, 13 June 2026
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI)
Entry is free, RSVP via this link: http://nairobicontemporaryartinstitute.artsvp.com/81585b?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_l2pxxckbcx

A reading list and selected excerpts will be available through a QR code at the front desk.

In observance of Madaraka Day, the gallery will remain closed tomorrow, Monday 1st June 2026.We will reopen on Tuesday, ...
31/05/2026

In observance of Madaraka Day, the gallery will remain closed tomorrow, Monday 1st June 2026.

We will reopen on Tuesday, 2nd June, from 10:00 AM.

See you then!

Join us for a two-day Etching Workshop inspired by 'Tabula Rasa', Peterson Kamwathi's ongoing exhibition at NCAI. Throug...
30/05/2026

Join us for a two-day Etching Workshop inspired by 'Tabula Rasa', Peterson Kamwathi's ongoing exhibition at NCAI. Through guided discussions, close engagement with selected works, and hands-on experimentation, participants will explore the art of mark-making and etching while creating their own prints.

Led by Peterson Kamwathi, the workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from one of Kenya's leading contemporary artists and gain deeper insight into his artistic practice.

No prior experience is required, just curiosity and a willingness to create.

📅 5–6 June 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
📍 Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute & Studio 43

Spaces are limited. Interested participants must sign up via the link in bio to secure a spot.

ContemporaryArt NairobiArts ArtWorkshop

In observance of Eid al-Adha, the gallery will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday 27th May 2026.We will reopen on Thursda...
26/05/2026

In observance of Eid al-Adha, the gallery will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday 27th May 2026.

We will reopen on Thursday, 28th May, from 10:00 AM.

See you then!

The Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI) is thrilled to invite you to a Cyanotype Workshop led by Wanini Kimemiah o...
22/05/2026

The Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI) is thrilled to invite you to a Cyanotype Workshop led by Wanini Kimemiah on Saturday, 30th May 2026.

This two-part workshop begins with the idea of neighborliness, asking who our neighbours are, what it means to be neighbourly, and how we can repair our kinship with the plant and animal world through care and attention.

Participants will begin with a guided plant walk around the area to identify local plants and collect fallen plant materials. The session will then move into a hands-on cyanotype-making process, where participants will create prints using the collected plant cuttings while engaging in conversations around ecology, interconnectedness, and care.

The workshop will also include an introduction to cyanotype making and cyanotype toning.

Wanini Kimemiah is a visual artist, writer, and archive-maker whose interdisciplinary practice explores ecology and interconnectedness through research-based processes.

No prior experience is required to participate.

Spaces are limited. Participants must sign up via this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7YbAF9k7xbxqXrvIhYm1oqvt7jfpGW4YhmC_FjoR0IAjiSQ/viewform to secure a spot.

As a safety precaution in light of the ongoing protests and traffic disruptions, the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute ...
18/05/2026

As a safety precaution in light of the ongoing protests and traffic disruptions, the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute will remain closed today, Monday, 18th May.

We hope to reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, 19th May, at 10:00 AM.

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Nairobi
00100

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10:00 - 19:00
Wednesday 11:00 - 19:00
Thursday 11:00 - 19:00
Friday 11:00 - 19:00
Saturday 11:00 - 19:00
Sunday 11:00 - 19:00

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