Justus Kyalo (Kenyan, born 1972)
Paths of Rhythm Before Chaos, 2003–4
signed ‘Justus Kyalo’ LH painting signed upper middle
RH painting signed lower right
oil on canvas
Each canvas 119 x 98cm
Ksh 550,000–700,000
US$ 6,250–7,950
Bought in
Provenance: Direct from artist
Trained as an illustrator, Kyalo has become one of Kenya’s most respected contemporary artists, who over the past decade has undertaken a rich visual journey towards abstraction. From loose figurative work, largely inspired by movement and dance, he has most recently painted pure, multilayered colour fields that absorb and envelop the viewer. Kyalo firmly views himself as an artist, rather than an ‘African’ artist: ‘My work is inspired by a huge variety of media: music, colour, light, movies, fashion, sound and photography.’
His work is in many collections including KPMG, the French Embassy, Ford Foundation, Safaricom and the World Bank, Washington. He has exhibited widely in Kenya and across the continent, as well as in Europe and America.
This diptych was created from a body of works inspired by contemporary dance and music. The title originates from the name of a dance piece by choreographer and dancer Opiyo Okach. The two paintings resemble the formation of dancers working in duets within demarcated areas of a dance space and in his own words are ‘getting chaotic with the rhythm’.