Naomi Gakunga
Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga (born 1960), is a Kenyan sculptor and visual artist. She was shortlisted for the Financial Times/Oppenheimer Funds Emerging Voices Awards in 2016 and 2017.
Also recorded as Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga
Naomi Gakunga
- Name
- Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga
- Born
- 1960
- Birthplace
- Gacharage, Kenya
- Occupation
- Sculptor
- Nationality
- Kenya
- Education
- University of Nairobi · University of California and Los Angeles
- Languages
- Kenyan English
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Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga (born 1960), is a Kenyan sculptor and visual artist. She was shortlisted for the Financial Times/Oppenheimer Funds Emerging Voices Awards in 2016 and 2017.
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga • Born — 1960 • Birthplace — Gacharage, Kenya • Occupation — Sculptor
Early years and education
Early years and education
Gakunga was born in Gacharage, Kenya in 1960. She had her tertiary education at the University of Nairobi in Kenya where she acquired a bachelor's degree in Design. She furthered at the University of California in Los Angeles.
Career
Career
Before leaving for the United States to pursue her graduate studies, Gakunga lectured at the University of Nairobi. She uses tin cans, textured sheet metal and steel wire to create wall-hanging sculptures. She has exhibited her works in the US, the UK, France, Brazil, Poland and Kenya. Some of the shows she has exhibited at include; the 2017 solo exhibitions at the October Gallery in London, Bihl Haus Arts in San Antonio, Frieze New York, the Art Paris Art Fair, and the Cape Town Art Fair. Her sculpture Mũgogo – The Crossing was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
Personal life
Personal life
Gakunga is married. She lives and works in San Antonio, Texas.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1960
Naomi Gakunga was born in 1960 at Central Province.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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