TEWASART AND PATRONS

Description

Curated by Kenyan independent curator Thaddeus Wamukoya (Tewa), founder and director of TEWASART AND PATRONS, A Contemporary Art Affair: Emerging African Voices showcases over 20 rising contemporary artists from the East African region and across the continent.

In addition, it serves as a fundraising event to support the Tewas Art African Art Award & Residency Program – 2026, which is designed to foster artistic growth and collaboration through a residency and mentorship program. The program will offer emerging African artists opportunities for creative exchange, mentorship, and connections to a broader network, while providing a platform to showcase their work to a wider audience.

FEATURED ARTISTS: ABEL BEYENE, NATNAEL ASHEBIR, TIBEB SIRAK, MIKIYAS SINTAYEHU, SIMON ABREHAM, BRIDGET BIBI VAN GRIEKEN, SHEILA BAYLEY, DOREEN MUENI, FRIDAH IJAI, NADIA WAMUNYU, MURAMUZI JOHN BOSCO, BABIRYE ERINAH FRIDAH, WAFA SALAH, FASALEJO TOBILOBA, ERICA KAPAYA, ALSADG MAHMOUD, MUJAHID ALHADI, USRA HAMZA

ABOUT TEWASART AND PATRONS

Founded in 2019 by Kenyan independent curator Thaddeus Wamukoya (Tewas Art), TEWASART AND PATRONS is a dynamic platform that supports and promotes emerging contemporary artists from East Africa and across the continent to a broader audience.

This initiative is much needed at a time when contemporary African art is increasingly gaining visibility on mainstream global platforms. Unlike more established contemporary African art markets, such as those in South Africa and West Africa, the East African region has lagged behind due to limited resources, infrastructure, and platforms for showcasing art, as well as a lack of a stronger and more inclusive system of gallery representation.

Through an organic and personal curatorial approach, TEWASART AND PATRONS organizes pop-up exhibitions and publishes contemporary art stories and online catalogues that connect emerging East African contemporary artists to a broader network of international curators, galleries, collectors, and institutions. Our publications aim to share the modern, unconventional, and diverse ideas of our artists with a broader audience. These stories aim to create and open a map of contemporary East African art and the artists' journeys.

In its short history, TEWASART AND PATRONS has become a thriving platform, facilitating critical engagement with both local and global art markets. Through our team's dedication, innovative curatorial approach, and experience, we continue to engage with more artists and advisors to develop the creative industry as a whole.