ARTFORM
Sculpturing, Photography
MATERIAL
Mixed media: found objects like e-waste, shells, metals and other “urban trash”.
GUIDING INTEREST
Social comments through objects made of discarded materials and obsolete technology, found in his hometown Nairobi. Afrofuturism (”Afrofuturism is all about art that draws its influence from science fiction, fantasy and historical fiction to examine African history and project the future.”) Cyrus Kabiru gained international recognition for his eyewear made from found objects, called C-Stunners, that he pictures in self-portraits.
QUOTE
”His practice straddles genres of fine art, haute couture, performance, and documentary. His artwork embodies his experience of life in contemporary cities on the African Continent.” (HKW)
EXHIBITIONS (selection)
2020 | Cape Town, South Africa | Iziko South African National Gallery | Matereality
2019 | Marrakech, Morocco | MACAAL | Material Insanity
2019 | Vestfossen, Norway | Kunstlaboratorium | KUBANTA
2018 | Kochi, India | Kochi-Muziris Biennale
2017 | Cape Town, South Africa | MOCAA | All Things Being Equal
2016 | Bilbao, Spain | The Guggenheim Museum
2015 | Weil am Rhein, Germany | Vitra Design Museum | Making Africa
2015 | New York, USA | Jewish Museum | Unorthodox
SOLO SHOWS
2017 | Cape Town, South Africa | Smac Gallery | Pandashuka
2015 | Cape Town, South Africa | Smac Gallery | C-Stunners and Black Mamba
2011 | Tilburg, Netherlands | Kunstpodium T Gallery | Cyrus Kabiru
see more
RECOGNITIONS
2016 | Nairobi, Kenya | Quartz Africa Innovators recognition
2013 | Los Angeles, USA | TED Fellowship Residency | The Young. The Wise. The Undiscovered.
FORMATION
Autodidact
BIO
Lives and works in Nairobi
1984 | Born in Nairobi, Kenya
LINKS
Youtube.com: Artist Spotlight: Cyrus Kabiru
Youtube.com: Art that changes how you see | Cyrus Kabiru
HKW.de: Cyrus Kabiru: Serie C-Stunners
smac Gallery.com: Cyrus Kabiru
Nataal.com
FEATURED PORTRAIT
Image courtesy of SMAC Gallery
AUTHORS
Pia and Samira