A chronology of art merchandise One of the earliest makers of real art in Kenya merchandise in this country, is an artist called Kioko Mwitiki. He might not see himself as a Around 2010, a company formed by the merchandiser but as artists made cash crops in author, Mali Ya Mali, sort to expand the the studio, Tom Ogonga, lead printmaker in possibilities of merchanding for the Kioko seemed to already have an art factory – Nairobi, made bags quite early Kenyan art sector. Working with artists where he created his well known metal animal on. What was interesting about from Patrick Mukabi to Yassir Ali, the sculptures in many multiples and working with Tom’s form of merchandise was company made notebooks and metal assistants. He seemed like he got in this game, that he didn’t opt for the route of buttons and tshirts with Mukabi’s on a serious scale, well before other artists printing or painting his art onto women and notebook covers and bags Dennis Muraguri must be came along. You will know Kioko’s work (and the bags, he instead chose to list with Charles Ngatia’s colourful paintings. included in the story of art legacy) when you see all those popular metal the names of some of the best Working with artist Wambui K. Collymore merchandise in Kenya. His sculptures of animals sold in many places now. known Kenyan artists. Pretty on one of her exhibitions, “Your Name matatus lent themselves Those begun with Kioko - his originals you will cool. So you’d walk around Betrays You”, the company and the artist so naturally to printing on see at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport - in the fields, carrying the names of artists made limited edition merchandise for the pouches and tshirts and the herds of migrating wildebeest and marching printed onto the bag – say their show. fridge magnets. life-size elephants. names; know their names. Around the same time that Tom Ogonga was creating his bags with names, his good artist friend, Michael Soi, begun to paint onto small The late beloved Ngene canvas bags. Onto the bags, he would paint There are artists who are completely against the idea of merchandising and who Mwaura created books and simplified single faces of women, similar to the had rather starve than have their artwork printed on a tea pot. For them, printed stunning colourful faces you’d see on his art. He begun slowly, merchandising is a cheapening of their work. And then there are those who love tshirts, magnets and with not so awesome canvas, and quite small merchandising and see it as an opportunity to expand the possibilities - of artists coasters with his bags, gifting them to friends and his daughter making quicker, more consistent money and for expanding the access of the arts Ngene-fied masks and as he continued to experiment with the format. to the people. There is still so much possibility - some museums around the world creatures. His books were A few years later, his bags, are well known art have become very sophisticated with their merchandising –making stunning packed with humour and his merchandise here in Nairobi and limited edition pieces that are highly coveted. There is still an interesting and own dose of quizzical beyond. promising journey for the Kenyan art “cash crop”. lightness and mind-expanding sweet story lines. His tshirts were gems. 50nd3k4 72 50nd3k4 73 50nd3k4 73 50nd3k4 72