Paul Onditi Kenya, b. 1980

As part of a new generation of African artists gaining international recognition, Onditi’s work explores complex contemporary issues through highly experimental and labor-intensive techniques. His process involves layering filmstrips, prints, transferred images, pared-down pigments, caustic acid, and thin layers of oil paint to construct intricate visual narratives. His art delves into the ideological, political, and religious tensions that have shaped human history, presenting a world that unravels these divisions with striking imagery.

Onditi primarily works on digital polyester inkjet plates, where he blends graphic abstraction with natural elements. A recurring enigmatic figure - often solitary -navigates these layered compositions, symbolizing the individual’s journey through fragmented, chaotic contemporary life. His earlier works depicted the rapid urbanization of cities, with intricate maps and depictions of modern infrastructure, environmental degradation, and urban sprawl. However, his more recent pieces have evolved into more abstract landscapes, where vivid bursts of color - orange, cobalt, and viridian - underscore urgent global concerns such as pollution, climate change, and resource depletion.

Onditi has exhibited extensively in Kenya and Europe, holding solo shows in both regions. His work has been featured in Bonhams' Africa Now auctions in London (2013, 2014) and in the first auction dedicated to Contemporary East African Art in Nairobi (2013). Additionally, he participated in the Ernst & Young Auction at the Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt. In 2016, he was selected to showcase a solo exhibition at VOLTA New York, further cementing his presence in the international art scene.