Jak Katarikawe (Ugandan, born 1938)
God Help, undated
Signed ‘Jak Katarikawe’ (lower left)
Oil on board
77 x 112 cm
Ksh 300,000-550,000
(US$ 2,800-5,140)
Sold Ksh 293,500
Provenance: private collection
Jak Katarikawe grew up in rural south west Uganda and is now one of East Africa’s best-known artists. As political oppression intensified in Uganda, Katarikawe relocated in 1981 to Nairobi, where he became one of the group of artists to gain exposure through Ruth Schaffner of Gallery Watatu.
Combining painting and storytelling, Katarikawe’s emotive portrayals of the dramas and dreams of village life have received international acclaim and been an inspiration to generations of young artists.
Extensively collected, Katarikawe’s paintings have been exhibited in Africa, Europe and the USA. Recently, they have been featured at the annual Bonhams’ Africa Now auction in London.
This work was purchased from Gallery Watatu circa 2012. It has some surface abrasion, paint loss and indentation in the corners of the board.