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ARTIST’S PROFILE
When walking along Ngong Road near the
Junction shoppingmall, abeautiful scenery
of fine art will engulf your eyes. Welcome
to Bonzo gallery. The gallery is run by
Adrian Nduma aged 42 years, who quit his
illustrious banking career at Commercial
BankofAfricatofollowhispassioninfineart.
“Kenyans must begin to see African art as
an investment,” he said while displaying
artwork. “People need to see how buying
artwork is comparable to buying shares
of a company listed on the Nairobi Stock
Exchange,”heexplains.
Upon his graduation, he did not feel obliged
to toil for several years. At first he tried
his hand in teaching, then two years in
advertisingbeforemoving tobanking. Itwas
during his years as a banker that he learnt
more about running a business andmaking
investments. He opted topursue anMBAat
theUniversity of Nairobi wherehedidall the
course work but never completed the final
project as he felt the career call in fine art
and focusedon it full time.
He says all he learnt in school and outside
has been put into practice to perfect his
artistic career. Nduma maintains that it’s
a myth to claim that Kenyans don’t have
money to buy art. Walk around Nairobi’s
restaurants or bars and see the amount of
moneypeoplespendon foodanddrinks.
“Kenyans have disposable income,
but many do not appreciate art as an
investment. They don’t understand that a
paintingthatcostsKShs.100,000todaycan
beworthmuchmore ina fewyears,”hesaid.
However, he also feels that Kenyan artists
need to be more inventive in marketing
their artwork. They don’t really need to rely
on galleries or art centres to promote their
work. “Galleries and art centres haven’t
done a very good job up to now, so it’s up to
theartists toget acreativewayofmarketing
theirwork,”heargued.
His passion for colours is evident when
asked about what makes his work tick. He
uses water-based colours and avoids oil-
based ones due to their smell. “I loveCrown
Paints colours because of their quality
and durability. His interest in growing the
art industry in Kenya is evident as he has
been training university students on how to
achieveasuccessful career asanartist.
Nduma enjoys painting every evening and
usuallyhasprivateshowingsathisstudio.
FrombankING
TO FINEART
