RESEARCH
100+ articles
Articles written by Zihan Kassam:
Academics & researchers can contact us directly to request
the full essay or live link by title or artist name
The Star
1. A Discerning Wanjiku: Art & The Wanjiku Revolution
2. Adrian Nduma exhibits at the new Osteria Gallery
3. A Hovel and a Home: Dickson Kaloki’s 1st Solo Exhibition
4. African Heritage House Hangs in the Balance
5. Alex in Wonderland: Alex Mbevo (2013)
6. And Another Thing by Timothy Brooke, One Off Gallery (2012)
7. An Ode to Willpower: Alexandra Spyratos at Gallery Watatu
8. Another World is Possible: Paul Onditi and Gor Soudan
9. A Premonition for Kisumu: Launch of The Little Art Gallery
10. Are Kenyans Ready to Invest in Kenya Contemporary Art?
11. Art and Life – The Perfect Union
12. Art by Prescription: A Look at Commissioned Work
13. Art, Irony & Anguish: Kisumu Peace Monument Restored
14. Art is our Potential: KCCL Exhibition 2012
15. Art is our Special Ability: A KCCL Art Exhibition
16. A Toast to the ‘Watch Dog’: James Mbuthia at One Off
17. Brothers in Arms: A Paradise Lost
18. Chasing Art & Auras in Nairobi (2014)
19. Circle Art Agency – The Launch
20. Circle Art Gains Traction – Xtract.Subtract.Abstract.
21. Colourful Africa: Patricia Njeri at Talisman (2012)
22. Dale Webster: Portraiture, Pleasure & Play
23. Disguise and Deliverance: Geraldine Robarts’ Mask Paintings
24. Every Tree has a Voice: Anthony Athaide and the New Culture Centre
25. Enter Absolut: Absolut Art Competition at Kuona Trust
26. Free or Fettered? The Freedom Exhibition at NNM
27. From Surreal to Sublime: Sneak Preview Peter Elungat 2012
28. Geraldine Robarts and the Stroke of Creation
29. Geraldine Robarts’ Fresh Stream of Consciousness
30. Gor Soudan: Tyre to Weapon, Wire to Art, Art to Message
31. How to Make an Artist come Home with you: M/eat the Artist
32. In The Limelight: Who is Samuel Njuguna Njoroge?
33. It all Begins at Home: InHouse Talanta NMK 2012
34. James Muruki: A Profile
35. Joseph Murumbi’s Legacy: The Murumbi African Heritage Collection
36. Kenya’s First Art & Beer Festival March 2012
37. Kobo Trust Exhibition Village Market: Sidney Mang’ong’o, Cyrus Kabiru, Dennis Murguri
38. Labyrinth: 50 years of Art in Kenya
39. Mary Ogembo: ‘African Beauty’ at Karen Country Club
40. Mutations at Maasai Mbili
41. Mwanzo Mpya: Longinos Nagilas at Shifteye Gallery
42. No Rust in Rustic: The Lake Basin Art Group’s 4th Show
43. Salt of the Earth: Geraldine Robarts’ New Watercolour Series
44. Sanctioning our Inheritance: Giovanna de Palma and University of Nairobi
45. Of Life & Art: Dr. Arch Reuben Mutiso Architect & Art Collector
46. Of Solitary Waiting: Ermias Ekube at Talisman Restaurant
47. Over the Bridge: Lily Pond Arts Centre in Nanyuki
48. Saline Solutions: Photographer Barry Koenecke
49. Saving African Heritage House
50. Sex & the City: Michael Soi, John Kamicha and Thom Ogonga
51. Smokey Gets Around: Paul Onditi goes to Bonhams
52. Sneak Preview of Circle’s Kempinski Auction (2013)
53. Someone Say Something: Body Mapping at KCC
54. Sphere of the Surreal: The Art of Peter Elungat
55. That Sanguine Seclusion: The Artist Compulsion for Solitude
56. The Charcoal Effect: Dickson Kaloki Talisman 2012
57. The Chopping Board: 11 in One Day Exhibition, Rustique
58. The Collective Countenance: Joseph Cartoon at NMK 2012
59. The Evolution of a Paintbrush: The Art of Tom Mboya
60. The Missing Tooth: Amyn Abdula & The Eddibu Collection
61. The Nairobi Art Scene is Vibrant, and the World has taken Note
62. The Pastoral, Political & Pious: 14 artists at One Off Gallery
63. The Phantom Garden: Irene Wanjiru’s Sculpture Garden
64. The Shambles of Socialization: Studio Visit with Peterson Kamwathi
65. The Spherique Indian Ocean Art Project (March 2012)
66. The Stigma of Excellence: A Day at Alan Donovan’s
67. The Joy of Candour: Chege Gitura’s 1st Exhibition
68. This Little Piggy Went to the Market: Circle at Bonhams
69. The Word from Bond Street – Eight Kenyans show at Bonhams
70. Through the Window: The Ana Mdomo Exhibition
71. Tingatinga – Da Ting Man? TACS in Dar es Salaam
72. What’s in a Name? Abushariaa Ahmed Revisits Kenya
Africanah.org
1. Democracy & Demeanour: Emerging Kenyan Artists Political & Social Discourse
2. Inside Beatrice Wanjiku’s Straightjacket
3. Jackie Karuti: Pedal to the Medal
4. Maral Bolouri: Reserved for the Brave
5. Michael Soi: Live from Kuona Trust
6. Scratching at Yesterday: Eltayeb Dawelbait, ‘Resurrection – Fragmented Faces’
7. Shabu the Conscientious: In to the psyche of Kenyan Artist Shabu Mwangi
8. The Lamu Art Festival 2017
9. The Preserved Interior: Gor Soudan exhibits at Red Hill Gallery, Nairobi
10. The Reappearing Act: Hussein Halfawi is back on the Scene
11. Thom of All Trades: Kenyan Contemporary Artist Thom Ogonga
12. What in the World? Scandal around Kenyan Pavilion Venice Biennial
13. Dans la tête: Stanislaw Trzebinski
Conceptual Fine Arts
1. “African Revolutionaries in Culture” Prince Yemisi Shyllon the Collector
2. More than Popcorn: Ugandan artists exhibit at Circle’s ‘Kampala Contemporary’
3. A curator is born: a look at Kenya’s first curator’s workshop
4. Who is Lavinia Calza: art agent and collector
5. Kitengela: New artist community in Kenya
6. Zeitz MOCAA: The Lightening Bird 2018
7. David Thuku: The Barter of Ideas June 2018
8. Disclosure & Disbelief: Kaloki Nyamai at the Stellenbosch Triennale
Circle Art Agency
2014 Modern and Contemporary Art Auction East Africa Catalogue
Lamu Painter’s Festival
Lamu Painters Festival catalogue 2015
Lamu Arts Festival catalogue 2016
The Searchlight: Navigating the Group Exhibition at NNM
The Fusion Diary
Lake Basins Torrents Back
The Nation
1. Ed Cross, Margaretta wa Gacheru and Jak Katarikawe
2. New Nairobi Agency Unveils the Best of East African Art
3. Saving African Heritage House
The Village Beat
The Heart of Art Exhibition
Additional Published Art Writing
Art Life, UP Magazine, African Colours
The Talisman Restaurant – Online ‘Art’ Blog
Art Writing for Qambani East African Art Collection Book, Zanzibar
Website and catalogue copy for artists:
Joachim Sauter
Adeo I Searchlight
1. Faults & Fissures: Michael Musyoka and Our Failing Constructs Worldwide
2. Reality as Reverie: Boniface Maina's Spellworks of Art
PRESS
"But it is not the racing cyclists, hard of muscle and squeezed by lycra, who interest the artist and writer Zihan Kassam. For her, the rhythm of life can be found in the ordinary riders of the black mambas that are everywhere and nowhere; invisible yet on every street, in all the towns and villages and being ridden with determination up every dusty hill. With towering crates of bread, or milk or even live chickens strapped to their parcel shelves, these big, black bikes with the double crossbars are the lifeblood of the small businesses that make up so much of East African trade."
The East African: Invisible Riders of the Black Mamba - Art Critic Frank Whalley
Press about Zihan Kassam
The East African How One Man Makes a Difference by Art Critic Frank Whalley
The East African A taste of the blue in landscapes of the mind by Art Critic Frank Whalley
Business Daily Artists Bring Colour to the Talisman by Arts Reporter Margaretta wa Gacheru
Business Daily August is the month for local artists to show their stuff by Margaretta wa Gacheru
The Star Zihan Kassam’s Mind Soars at Will by Nduta Waweru & Frida Kamikazi
The Star Shelter for a Sage Exhibition at Talisman by Monicah Mwangi
The Star Shelter for a Sage by Pauline Odhiambo
The Star The Mysterious Man on a Bicycle by Nduta Waweru
Up Nairobi For the Love of Nature by Anyiko Owoko
International & Local Painters Indulge in the Lamu Festival by Margaretta wa Gacheru
Tidal Wave of Activity hits the Nairobi Art Scene by Margaretta wa Gacheru
Up-and-coming Female artists in Kenya by Frank Whalley
The East African The Discreet Charm of a Private Viewing but not even a Cup of Tea by Frank Whalley