Sebastian Kiarie (Kenyan, born 1971)
My House Help, 2011
signed ‘Kiarie’ (lower right)
oil on canvas
148 x 144cm
Ksh 300,000–350,000
US$ 3,410–3,980
Sold Ksh 610,480
Provenance: Acquired direct from artist by Banana Hill Art Gallery
Sebastian Kiarie’s career began in the early 1990s under the support of the Ngecha Village art community.
“As opposed to painting objects accurately and informatively, I paint with an intent to capture the essence and feeling of a given moment. I have an interest in personal mythologies, and symbolism is evident in my work, both in stylized figures and using colours subjectively.”
Kiarie has exhibited in Germany, the U.S., U.K., Japan, Zambia, South Africa, South Korea and U.A.E. This painting is typical of Kiaire’s narrative style, pushing the viewer to their own interpretation of the subject’s story.