Mpingo Wood

Sanaa, gibb’s farm Artists-In-Residence Program, brings in selected Fine Artists from East Africa - Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda - who are serious about taking their work to the international market, and interested in living and working on the Farm for a period of time. Artists have their own studio on the Farm, and the Farm commissions select pieces from each artist during his or her stay. Our goal is to gradually transform Gibb’s Farm’s walls and gardens into a gallery of quality East African Traditional and Contemporary Fine art.

 

SANAA artists

Charles Bies

The Makonde, originating from Southern Tanzania, are known worldwide for their carving skills and are considered the most dynamic and unrestrained of all East African artists.

Charles Bies, traditional Makonde Carver and inspiration for Sanaa, has been living and working at the Farm since 2002. Charles began carving at the age of 6, under the guidance of his grandfather, and has not turned back since. He believes that through his art, he is preserving his culture – the Makonde culture.

Charles’ latest two carvings, “Olpayan” and “Ijumaa” stand in the newly completed Farm Cottages.

Robert Aswani

Robert Aswani was born in Western Kenya in 1971. As a young child he would accompany his mother to the market; little did he know the faces and scenes those young eyes absorbed would become the focus of his work. Complex and colorful market scenes are his favorite subject. Robert generally works with watercolor ink or acrylics, but enjoys experimenting with various styles according to the piece. After finishing high school Robert began to paint as a full-time artist, and he now lives in Nairobi, where he works out of his studio house. Robert has become a highly celebrated artist in Kenya, and his paintings hang in houses and galleries worldwide.

 

 

“Wedding Day”,
one of Robert Aswani’s pieces.

David Mzuguno

David Mzuguno is a painter from Dar es Salaam who has become famous for his intricate paintings of gardens and forests. His work, although derived from the Tanzanian Tinga Tinga style, transcends the norm. David works happily in the vegetable garden teahouse, surrounded by endless inspiration.

Riziki Kateya

Riziki Kateya is the first Tanzanian to achieve an internationally recognized standard of quality in botanical illustration. Maasai by origin, from the Ngarantoni Arusha Area, Riziki studied art at the Bagamoyo School of Arts. During her studies, botanist Colin Watkins came to the school with the task of granting one student a scholarship to study in London. It was Riziki who was chosen to study at Kew Gardens in the Botanical Illustration Department, where she trained under Christabel King, outstanding artist and teacher.

Peter Ray Mwasha

Peter Ray Mwasha was born in 1981 in the Kilimanjaro Region. When he was a little boy he started painting and sketching what he saw around him – trees, mountains, animals.  But it was only after finishing technical college that Peter really began taking his art seriously.  His work is abstract, but based on traditional Maasai culture, music and stories, and through his art he has discovered his own Maasai identity.  “Art is about communication.  My art speaks to me every day, but it also speaks to the world about Africa.”

GIBB’S FARM plans to bring in a new artist every few months. For more information about Sanaa, please contact us.