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Artist Biography

Eddy Ochieng (b. 1993, Nairobi, Kenya) is a celebrated hyper‑realism portrait artist whose oil-on-canvas works bring intimate, human stories to vivid life. A 2017 graduate from Kenyatta University’s Fine Art and Design program, Ochieng rose quickly in the East African art scene. He was recognized with the prestigious MASK Awards (2017, 2019) and Manjano Award in 2021. His work has been featured in major Kenyan Art Fairs (2015–17), the Franschhoek Art Festival in Cape Town (2018), and exhibited in Australia and the UK. In 2024, he earned praise for remarkable works like "The Buoyancy of Time" (47″×47″) shown on Artsy for US$7,500. Now based in Nairobi’s Karen neighborhood, his studio is a hub of commissioned commissions and artistic exploration.
Statement

Artist Statement

My art is a reflection of my roots, my people, and the vibrant, complex spirit of Africa. I paint to preserve memory, to challenge perceptions, and to celebrate the everyday beauty of Black life. My work is deeply inspired by Kenyan culture, urban life, and the global Black experience—anchored in bold color, layered texture, and emotional truth.

Through figurative portraiture and mixed media, I explore identity, masculinity, resilience, and spirituality. Each canvas is a dialogue—between tradition and modernity, visibility and silence, power and vulnerability. I often use expressive brushwork and textured surfaces to symbolize the layers of our human stories. My subjects—whether imagined or real—carry presence, pride, and purpose.

I believe in art as a form of resistance, healing, and connection. As an African artist, my goal is to contribute to a global conversation about who we are, where we come from, and where we’re going. My work is not just what I see—it’s what I feel, remember, and hope for.

— Eddy Ochieng

Jennia - Exhibitions

Artist Exhibitions

Jennia - Works Available

Works Available

Jennia - Press

Press

IN THE PAINT — Artist Spotlight
Jennia Fredrique Aponte

Jennia Fredrique Aponte, an artist from Gary, Indiana, pays homage to Black dancers and forgotten icons through intricate paper mosaics. Using rare, recycled, and handmade paper collected from her travels, Jennia crafts each piece to honor ancestors and envisions a future of inclusivity and joy.

Sol Aponte And Jennia Fredrique Seek To Amplify Voices In Black Art

Led by the husband-and-wife duo, Art Melanated is making a way for creatives of color—one exhibition at a time.

Meet the Husband and Wife Duo Shaking Up the Art World

Sol and Jennia Aponte are diversifying the overwhelmingly white art world by hosting traveling exhibitions of work by Black artists, thereby creating a new paradigm.

Jennia - Events

International Debut

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International Debut

Meet us in Paris. We’re excited to announce that Art Melanated is making its international debut at the 10th anniversary of AKAA (Also Known As Africa) @akaa_fair Art Fair this October in Paris. As the only U.S. gallery selected to exhibit, we’re bringing the brilliance of our community to the global stage—and spotlighting a very special artist. Jennia Fredrique Aponte @jenniafredrique will present her first solo international exhibition, debuting her breathtaking new series: Clockwork Academy: School for Girls. Set in an alternate 1888, this visionary body of work reimagines Black girlhood at the height of the Industrial Revolution—where invention becomes identity, and sisterhood becomes power. 📍 AKAA Art Fair – Carreau du Temple, Paris 🗓 October 24–26, 2025

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