The Ẹlẹ́wà installation on the veranda at the Alliance Française presents a new body of work called Blueprints of Being, inspired by this year’s theme, “Let’s Be Human.”
It includes quilted collages called Skin Deep. By revealing the bones and joints we all share, it explores how our differences as humans are, quite literally, only skin deep. It pairs X-rays with botanical forms to celebrate the beauty of the body and our connection to the natural world.
The installation also includes Portrait of a Family That Lives—collages made from a family’s internal images, showing marks of healing, endurance, mortality, and new life--and a series created with Kenyan artist Joy Maringa.
Ẹlẹ́wà will be hosting a sunprinting activity.
Elizabeth Ashamu Deng's solo exhibition, "Your Future Is Bright," opens at One Off Contemporary Art Gallery in Rosslyn on February 28th, 2:00-5:00 p.m. The exhibition run 28 February – 22 March.
This body of cyanotypes reflects on shade and light, resilience and radiance — and will leave you feeling full of hope. The exhibit catalogue is available here.
One Off Contemporary Art Gallery has been a cornerstone of Nairobi’s contemporary art scene for over three decades, championing both Kenyan and international artists.
Bizarre Bazaar is one of Nairobi’s most vibrant craft fairs, bringing together makers, designers, and artists for a three-day celebration of creativity. At the December edition, held from 12–14 December, Ẹlẹ́wà showcased a fresh collection of handmade work, including Christmas tree ornaments, lampshades, framed cyanotypes, cards, and bookmarks—each piece crafted with care by Elizabeth Ashamu Deng.
African Makers Market is a biannual platform that celebrates local craftsmanship, bringing together artisans who showcase and sell handmade creations—from home décor and fashion to gourmet treats. At the AMM Christmas Souk, Ẹlẹ́wà presented a new range of products, including Christmas tree ornaments and lampshades, alongside framed cyanotypes, cards, and bookmarks—each one unique and handmade by Elizabeth Ashamu Deng
This quarterly market brings together makers, creators, and artisans to share their passion and craft, offering unique handmade gifts from local brands. Elizabeth Ashamu Deng showcased recent work and hosted a sun-printing “make your own bookmark” activity, which proved popular with both kids and adults.
This open-air gallery in one of Nairobi’s premier shopping destinations brings together works by both leading and emerging artists from across East Africa. Elizabeth Ashamu Deng showcased her recent pieces, contributing to a vibrant and inspiring collective exhibition.
Elizabeth Ashamu Deng’s passion for flowers inspires much of her work. Tin Roof, a space alive with the beauty and calm of its garden, is the perfect place to celebrate them.
The cyanotype process has a special way of capturing the natural world: leaves, flowers, feathers and insect wings. Light passes around objects, revealing shape and form with striking precision, and through them, uncovering textures we might otherwise miss.
The collection at Provisions Kenya celebrates the beauty of nature and reflects the spirit of the space—a place that honors the environment and values mindful, intentional creation
In this collection, Elizabeth Ashamu Deng, places cyanotype in dialogue with African textile traditions to create striking blue-and-white compositions.
Her series on the kanga brings this everyday textile into the home as art. Each piece highlights a Swahili proverb with resonance in domestic life, transforming fabric into visual and verbal poetry.
Elizabeth also explores kitenge (wax print) patterns, celebrated across Africa for their vibrant color, bold geometry, and floral energy. Rendered in indigo tones, these designs connect African textiles to both continental and global traditions of batik and resist- dyeing.
The resulting works fuse color, pattern, and text into pieces that feel both familiar and surprising—vibrant yet contemplative, playful yet serene.
