Exhibition: ‘Trails’ by Dickens Otieno, Nov. 29 2023 – Jan. 6 2024 @ Circle Art Gallery, Victoria Square – Riara Road.

Opening: November 29, 2023

Venue: Circle Art Gallery, Victoria Square – Riara Road

Time: from 6 PM Dates:

Until January 6, 2024.

About

Circle Art present a series of new works, more ambitious in scale and experimental techniques exemplifying not only Dickens technical prowess, but also, the expanding material and visual vocabulary of his work. Known for his sculptural tapestries of woven aluminium and three-dimensional garments in the same medium, Dickens engagement with his chosen medium reflects his interest in the way colour, texture, pattern and iconography imbue ordinary objects with meaning and identity. 

Dickens has participated in numerous group exhibitions locally and internationally and has an ever-growing base private and institutional collectors. In 2022, he was one of the artists representing the Kenya Pavilion at the 59th Venice Bienalle. Other group and solo exhibitions include Art Dubai (2023); Mtaani, Steve Turner Gallery, Los Angeles (2021); See Here, Old Neals Auction House, Nottingham, (2018); Africa/Africa, Total Arts Courtyard Gallery, Al Quoz, Dubai, (2018); Young Guns, Circle Art Gallery, Nairobi, (2017); The Third Dimension, Circle Art Gallery, (2016); UNI-FORM MULTI-FORM, Roots Contemporary, Nairobi, (2016); Paint and Metal, National Museum in Nairobi, (2016).

Mabati Tailor: A Solo Exhibition by Dickens Otieno, Nov. 25 – Dec. 22 2020 @ Circle Art Gallery

Dickens Otieno, White with Patches, 2020 | via the Gallery

Opens: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Venue: Circle Art Gallery
Time: 4 pm

The exhibition runs until 22 December 2020.

About
We are over the moon to announce our final show of the year, the first ever solo by Dickens Otieno (Kenyan, b. 1979).

Known for his sculptural tapestries of woven aluminium and three-dimensional objects in the same medium, Dickens Otieno’s engagement with his chosen medium reflects his interest in the way colour, texture, pattern and iconography imbue ordinary objects with meaning and identity.
Growing up, Dickens watched his mother, a tailor, working, and those childhood encounters with fabric and pattern greatly informed his practice of weaving and use of material. Other sources of inspiration for his vibrant sculptural compositions include various modes of dress and uniform, his immediate physical surroundings, particularly the urban environment of Nairobi with objects piled high in markets, the constantly shifting skyline, and pockets of nature in the ever-growing concrete and steel maze of Nairobi.

Dickens has been practising for 15 years, and this show brings together 19 new works, his large woven wall hangings and free-standing garment sculptures. Some of the works in this show are much larger in scale than before, and display, not only Dickens’s technical prowess but also show the expanding material and visual vocabulary of his work.

Otieno has participated in numerous group exhibitions locally and internationally. Recent exhibitions include: See Here, Old Neals Auction House, Nottingham, 2018; Africa/Africa, Total Arts Courtyard Gallery, Al Quoz, Dubai, 2018; Young Guns, Circle Art Gallery, Nairobi, 2017; The Third Dimension, Circle Art Gallery, 2016; UNI-FORM MULTI-FORM, Roots Contemporary, Nairobi, 2016; Paint and Metal, National Museum in Nairobi, 2016. His recent residencies include the Tilleard Artist Residency in Lamu (2018), Kenya, and a 6-week fellowship in Italy at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation (2019). Otieno’s work has been exhibited at international art fairs in Cape Town, Lagos, and Paris, and he has an ever-growing base of local and international private and institutional collectors.

Exhibition: Blue, Darkly, Deeply, Beautifully Blue, Nov. 25 2017 – Jan. 15 2018 @ One Off Contemporary

Private View: Saturday, 25 November 2017
Exhibition Run: 25 November 2017 – 15 January 2018

Featuring works by: Richard Kimathi, Kyalo Justus, Anthony Okello, Ehoodi Kichapi, James Muriuki, Rashid Diab, Dickens Otieno, Timothy Brooke and James Mbuthia

http://www.oneoffafrica.com/blue.html

Exhibition: Paint & Metal by Mary Ogembo & Dickens Otieno, Dec. 10 2016 – Jan. 14 2017 @ Creativity Gallery – National Museum

Dates: December 10, 2016 to January 14, 2017
Venue: Creativity Gallery, National Museum
Time: Open Daily; 8.30 am – 5.30 pm
Museum Rates Apply

About
Mary Ogembo’s paintings are rich with vibrant Earth colors that bring about the state of the African environment. She is inspired by the African woman and applies unconventional, engaging and fun concepts that overlook the negative stereotype placed on the African woman.

Ogembo is a kenyan born artist who has been working as a full time artist since 1998. She is currently based at the GoDown Arts centre in Nairobi. 2005, she won commonwealth arts and craft award, worked in Ghana as a resident artist for a period of six months at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Her work has been widely recognized by local media in Kenya and other countries including, South African broadcasting cooperation, Featuring Africa Within, CNN Inside Africa 2011 and others.

Collected by: The National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe, The Standard Chartered bank UK and Casoria museum in Italy have collected her work.

Exhibitions: Kenya, France, USA, Egypt, Canada, Finland, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, India, Germany, Lithuania and Abu Dhabi.
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Dickens George Otieno’s (B.1979) practice is driven by the search to find meaning and worth in things that seem otherwise useless. Otieno weaves large sculptural fabrics and makes cloth sculpture from discarded drink cans which he collects from local kiosks near his home and studio. He compares the shredded cans to palm leaves which have been used traditionally for weaving through many generations and civilizations.

Clothing is important because apart from covering the body, it is also a statement about the person through the different designs of color, material and even the patterns printed on them which reflects the time and the world today.

Works at: The GoDown Art Centre in Nairobi, Kenya

Selected Exhibitions: Amsterdam art fair(2016), UN.FORM/MULTI.FORM(2016), Kenya Art FAIR (2016), Circle Modern and Contemporary East African Art Auction(2015), solo exhibitions at Nafasi Art Centre-Dar es Saalam(2015), Emerson Hurumizi Zanzibar(2015) and Manjano(2011)
His work is represented in various private collections

From the GoDown to the CBD: Exhibition by Various Artists from the GoDown, Jul. 30-Aug. 31 2013 @ Alliance

From the GoDown…
…to the CBD

Opening: July 30, 2013
Venue: Alliance Francaise
Time: 6 pm

Exhibition Dates: July 30-August 31, 2013

Art works by: Otieno Kota, Mike Kyalo, Alex Mbevo, Tom Mboya, Patrick Mukabi, Moses Mukono, Charles Ngatia, Mary Ogembo, Robbie Omweri, Andrew Otieno, Dickens Otieno, Michael Soi & Ian Waswa

Curated by Thom Ogonga

Exhibition: Close Encounters by D. Webster, D. Otieno & F. Wangui, Mar. 22 – Apr. 25 2013 @ Le Rustique Restaurant

Close encounters an exhibition by Dale Webster, Dickens Otieno & Florence Wangui

Dates: March 22 – April 25, 2013
Venue: Le Rustique Restaurant

Private Art Show: Sculptures and Sculptors, Dec. 1-2 2012 @ the Little Art Gallery

The Little Art Gallery presents a private art show … a weekend of art with friends;

Dates: December 1-2, 2012
Venue: Mechtild and Will’s residence, (St Michaels Rd, off Waiyaki Way – Opp. Safaricom Hse.
Time: 11am – 6 pm
RSVP: William 0722 457 111, e-mail – William@thelittleartgallery.co.ke or Mechtild 0737 184 451, e-mail – mechtild@xs4all.n

A selection of fine sculptors including Bertiers, Morris Foit, Irene Wanjiru, Harrison Mburu, Omosh Kindeh, Anthony Wanjau, Peter Walala, Ken Mwingi, Dickens Otieno, Michael Soi, Kepha Musoti and Dennis Muraguri.

On Sunday 2nd, enjoy a glass of wine and the artists’ company as you contemplate their artworks. A few paintings will also be on show.

Exhibition: Art Bits by GoDown Arts Resident Artists, Nov. 24-Dec. 14 2012 @ GoDown Arts Centre

The GoDown resident artists and some of their students will be holding their second annual art exhibition at the GoDown Arts Centre.

Featuring work by resident artists;
Dickens Otieno, Mary Ogembo, Caroline Mbirua, Hassan Fadhul, Dickson Kaloki, Charles Ngatia, Tom Mboya, Patrick Kariuki, Michael Soi, Thom Ogonga, Alex Mbevo, Esther Mukuhi, Martin Onyango, Patrick Mukabi, Noor Jefwa

The theme of the exhibition is Art Bits and will feature artworks produced in the course of the year

Opening: Saturday 24th November, 2012
Venue: GoDown Arts Centre
Time: 2-6 pm