Steve’s works captivated me at first glance with their singularity, elegance, and, above all, their emotional power. As I contemplate them, I can feel the soul of his muses, who are predominantly women. Their vivid and striking looks command my respect and admiration and make me want to meet them in person to hear what they have to say about themselves and their lives.

After several exchanges by message, Steve and I finally met by video call. I had the pleasure of discovering a humble and funny artist, well aware of the social problems in his environment, and determined to solve them through his art.

Steve began his artistic journey at an early age. A keen draughtsman, he won a drawing competition at school at 8, submitting a portrait of his father that he had drawn. Aware of his talent, some teachers did not hesitate to send him to the blackboard to illustrate various notions for the class.

As his artistic abilities were increasingly recognized by those around him, Steve’s confidence grew and he began to devote more time to his art, winning further awards.

His passion and determination led him to study fine arts at the Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts in Nairobi (Kenya). However, the vagaries of life and his burning desire to find his artistic path and make a meaningful impact on society pushed him to drop out.

Having seen his mother toil away over the years, and witnessed the precarious social and economic situation of many Kenyan women, Steve wanted to pay tribute to them for their courage and resilience.

Little by little, his art took a turn towards documenting the society in which he lives, its daily life, its beauty, and its ills. However, since he had to put bread on the table, Steve did, as he puts it, more “perfect portraits” on commission than anything else.

Then happened the ‘little’ accident that changed everything; as he was working on a ‘perfect portrait’ commission (to be delivered shortly), his brush unwittingly slipped on the canvas, leaving an irreparable mark on the face in the portrait. Steve had to act fast. He decided to contact the client and convince him to give him more time to develop “a new approach”.

Hovering between hope and despair, Steve kept scarifying the face in the portrait and, as he was doing it, he could subtly feel he was approaching something oddly new and familiar at the same time; the birth of his new artistic identity, his new style. Fortunately, the client was pleased with the result.

Then, through a process of experimentation, Steve developed the fascinating style he’s known for today, mixing fine portrait drawing with African traditional scarifications and patterns, all that infused with palpable emotional intensity. To give birth to his compelling pieces, Steve uses charcoal, chalk, pastels, and acrylics on reversed canvas (so his mediums adhere better).

Through his art, Steve tells us the story of women of unsuspected strength who constitute, in the shadows, the social fabric of his country. His artwork is a testament to love, strength, and the indomitable spirit of beauty that persists through adversity. His approach often involves meeting these women in person, listening, and understanding what they’re going through. He then takes their photos to represent them as honestly and authentically as possible on canvas. A portion of the profits from the sale of the work is then donated to the work’s muse to help her financially.

Thank you, Steve, for honoring the African woman in such a beautiful and inspiring way. Your art is a feast for the eyes and the soul.

To purchase one or more of Steve’s sublime works, contact him here: https://www.instagram.com/nyaga_arts/

Location: Kitengela (Kenya)