Lot 52 Richard Onyango
Richard Onyango (Kenyan, born 1960)
Pool Leaning Serial IV © of D&M – Vol II, 2003
Signed ‘Richard Malindi Kenya 2003’ (lower right)
80 x 99.5 cm
Ksh 490,000 – 600,000 ARR
US$ 4,500 – US$5,500
Provenance: The Daraja Collection
Sold Ksh 493,080
Living and working in Malindi, Richard Onyango is one of Kenya’s most well-known artists with an extensive international following. He began his career by supporting himself through a number of occupations including carpenter, fashion designer, woodcarver, sign painter, farmer and musician. His life changed at the age of 20 when he was working as a drummer in a band and first met his British lover Drosie, who took him under her wing. He began his art career painting pictures of his memories of her and their relationship.
This painting is from the Drosie series in which Onyango is teaching her to play pool.
Onyango was included in the Africa Remix exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, London; the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, USA in 2005; and at the Venice Biennale in 2003. He is represented in the Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC), Geneva, Switzerland, which was founded by Jean Pigozzi. It is the largest private collection of its kind and includes several of his major works.