Cyrus Kabiru Kenya, b. 1984
Biography
“Most of my projects are freestyle. I don’t plan tomorrow. And I’m very happy.”
Cyrus Kabiru was born in 1984 in Nairobi, Kenya, where he still lives and works.
Kabiru is a self-taught multi-disciplinary artist, known for his sculptural spectacles or C-Stunners, which are made of retrieved objects and recycled materials sourced on the streets of Nairobi. His intricate sculptural works push the boundaries of conventional craftsmanship, sculpture, photography, design, and fashion. His works deal with transformation and renewal. The design of his works embeds his vision of the future. Each C-Stunner is the product of an innovation process intimately linked to his life-story. Recently, Kabiru has also focused on the deconstruction and reconstruction of radios, bicycles, and other pop objects.
In 2010, he was the resident artist at the Han Nefkens Foundation in Barcelona, Spain. He was the first artist to participate in the Flow Series talks program – a joint initiative of the Han Nefkens Foundation and the Antoni Tàpies Foundation. In 2013, he was selected for an innovator fellowship at TED’s The Young, The Gifted, The Undiscovered program. In 2016, he was chosen by Quartz as one of the most promising Africa Innovators in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2021 he was the resident artist at AKKA Project Venice, Italy. Lately one of his radios has been acquired by the Met Museum in New York City after his participation at the group exhibition Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room.
Works
Cyrus KabiruJoin the dots, 2020Scrap Metal and recycled material195 x 210 x 28 cm- Cyrus KabiruJiko Nyeusi (Dark Cooker), 2021Scrap Metal and recycled material60 x 67 x 12 cm
- Cyrus KabiruStand Tall, 2021Scrap Metal and recycled material183 x 126 x 29 cm
- Cyrus KabiruRoman numbers, 2021Scrap Metal and recycled material55 x 49 x 5 cm
- Cyrus KabiruThe Beads from Murano, 2021Original Murano glass beads, scrap metal and recycled material26 x 40 x 10 cm
- Cyrus KabiruRialto bridge, 2022Scrap Metal and recycled material13 x 25 x 10 cm
- Cyrus KabiruKitenge, 2022Scrap Metal and recycled material13 x 25 x 10 cm
- Cyrus KabiruVenetian jukebox, 2022Scrap Metal and recycled material34 x 59 x 10 cm
- Cyrus KabiruKitenge (Cyrus Kabiru Wearing), 2022Giclée print on Hahnemule fine art paper 310 gm100 x 100 cm
- Cyrus KabiruRed Mask (Cyrus Kabiru Wearing), 2022Giclée print on Hahnemule fine art paper 310 gm100 x 100 cm
- Cyrus KabiruRialto Bridge (Cyrus Kabiru Wearing), 2022Giclée print on Hahnemule fine art paper 310 gm100 x 100 cm
- Cyrus KabiruThe Beads from Murano (Cyrus Kabiru Wearing), 2022Giclée print on Hahnemule fine art paper 310 gm100 x 100 cm
- Cyrus KabiruThe Black Beauty, 2024Helmet, scrap metal and recycled materials40 x 40 x 45 cm
Photograph not available
Exhibitions
Publications
Art Fairs
1-54 NEW YORK
Contemporary African Art Fair8 - 11 May 2025We are excited to announce AKKA Project’s first participation in 1-54 New York 2025, bringing contemporary African art to a key global stage. Our booth...Read more
(Un)Fair 2022
7 - 10 April 2022AKKA Project is pleased to announce its participation at (Un)Fair 2022 , an art fair dedicated to contemporary artworks, collectors and galleries, happening in Milan...Read more
Art Dubai 2022
11 - 13 March 2022AKKA Project is pleased to announce its participation at Art Dubai 2022 . The 15th edition of the fair will take place from 11 to...Read more
News
HOMO FABER 2024
Cyrus Kabiru and Ghizlane Sahli 30 August 2024AKKA Project is truly delighted to announce that some artists from our roster have been selected to participate in the prestigious event Homo Faber 2024:...Read moreCollide at Featherstone Centre for the Arts
Featuring Cyrus Kabiru 19 July 2023AKKA Project is thrilled to announce that our artist, Cyrus Kabiru , has been selected to participate in the Collide exhibition at the Featherstone Centre...Read moreFabric of Dreams. Towards a Technodiversity
AIL Exhibition featuring Cyrus Kabiru 16 March 2023The exhibition Fabric of Dreams. Towards a Technodiversity opens on March 16th, 2023 , at AIL - Angewandte Interdisciplinary Lab - at the University of...Read moreOZANGÉ
1st Biennial of African Photography 3 November 2022AKKA Project is excited to announce that Cyrus Kabiru 's C-Stunners photographs have been selected for the first OZANGÉ Biennial of African Photography held in...Read moreVenice Glass Week
AKKA Project and Salvaguardia delle Perle Veneziane 20 September 2022AKKA Project is happy to announce a project in collaboration with the Committe for the Safeguard of the Art of Venetian Glass Beads . Now...Read moreArt of Recycle with Cyrus Kabiru
Art Dubai 2022 1 March 2022“I am trying to change the world through my work, by recycling, and by showing the younger generation that you can live if you save...Read moreCyrus Kabiru's work at Palais de Tokyo
Cyrus Kabiru x Moleskine Foundation 8 February 2022We have exciting news! Our artist Cyrus Kabiru 's work is currently on view at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris , France, 8th -...Read moreAnalogue Social Media
Cyrus Kabiru x Moleskine Foundation 9 December 2021Analogue Social Media by the artist Cyrus Kabiru is the latest addition to the Moleskine Foundation ArtWork collection. Cyrus's notebook has been created thinking about...Read moreBefore Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room
Exhibition featuring Cyrus Kabiru at The MET New York 5 November 2021Opening at The Met Fifth Avenue on November 5, 2021, Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room , like any of The Met’s...Read moreCyrus Kabiru
Artist in Residence 2021 25 August 2021AKKA Project is pleased to announce that the artist Cyrus Kabiru has been selected for the third edition of AKKA Project | Artist Residency Program...Read moreArt: An Essential Need
Emergency Grants for Artists Living in Africa 15 March 2020“The beauty will save the world. ” – Dostojevski In order to create a virtual connection against the physical walls of isolation, and to raise...Read more
Press
5 African artists leading the sustainable art movement
Simran Jeet, News Bytes, 21 April 2025Vineyard Visionary Brings South African Art to Featherstone
Emily Gajda, Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News, 2 August 2023Innovazione nell’Eyewear Design: Prospettive del Settore Produttivo dell’Occhiale
Elisabetta Benelli e Benedetta Terenzi, Maggioli Editore, 8 February 2023Cyrus Kabiru offers “A Small World” to AKKA Project in Venice
Editorial board, OnArt, 23 September 2022‘A Small World’: Cyrus Kabiru at AKKA Project, Venice
The Sole Adventurer, 2 September 2022Cyrus Kabiru: A Small World
Contemporary and, 25 August 2022AKKA Project presents ‘A Small World’ by Cyrus Kabiru
ARTAFRICA, 18 August 2022Venezia, da AKKA Project la personale dell’artista keniota Cyrus Kabiru
Redazione, Finestre Sull’Arte, 15 August 2022African Identities Group Exhibition
arte.it, Arte.it, 18 June 2022AKKA project – African Identities Group exhibition
Redazione Art Vibes, Art Vibes, 28 April 2022I mille volti degli artisti Africani: alla AKKA Project la mostra collettiva African Identities
Redazione, NotiziArte, 26 April 2022AFPR—Meet The Artists: Cyrus Kabiru
THE MET, 19 April 2022Perché visitare (Un)Fair, fiera-non-fiera di arte contemporanea
Susanna Macchia, Vogue, 8 April 2022Immagini da (un)fair, la nuova fiera di arte contemporanea a Milano
Redazione, Artribune, 7 April 2022A Milano arriva (un)fair, il nuovo format innovativo di fiera-non fiera
Redazione, Exibart, 7 April 2022Nasce a Milano la nuova rassegna (un)fair. Una fiera e tutto il suo contrario
Giulia Ronchi, Artribune, 7 April 2022Nasce (Un)Fair, La Nuova Fiera-Non Fiera Che Porta A Milano Le Ultime Tendenze Dell’arte Contemporanea Internazionale
Diego Santamaria, Espoarte contemporary art magazine, 4 April 2022Milano strizza l'occhio ai giovani collezionisti
Ludovico Pratesi, Il Venerdì - La Repubblica, 1 April 2022‘African Identities’ at AKKA Project, Venice, Italy
ARTAFRICA, 25 March 2022Dubai Highlights Its Position as a Hub For Art From Africa
Albawaba, 25 March 202210 booths at Art Dubai 2022 that are exhibiting exemplary contemporary art
STIRpad, 12 March 2022Art Dubai 2022 opens with a sense of joy and gratitude
Melissa Gronlund, The National News, 11 March 2022Cyrus Kabiru – Akka Project | Venice Artist Residency, 2021
Redazione Art Vibes, Art Vibes, 16 September 2021
Video
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