Rasto Cyprian

Rasto Cyprian (b. 2001, Kenya) lives and works in Nairobi. Born in Busia and raised in Kibera, he began making art at the age of twelve through an arts programme at the Uweza Foundation and later developed his practice alongside mixed-media artist Onyis Martin.

Working across painting, drawing, collage and fibreglass mesh, Cyprian builds compositions from observation, memory and the atmosphere of everyday life. Landscapes, architecture and objects mingle with references to craft, fashion and classical painting, while reeds from the riversides of his childhood recur as a visual motif. His process foregrounds texture, pattern and material experimentation, creating shifting moods between familiarity and abstraction.