Kenyan-born artist Wangechi Mutu offers an intriguing selected collection of her transformative artworks for sale to benefit Kenyan children.

BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON

A rare and unparalleled opportunity awaits discerning collectors: Kenyan-born artist Wangechi Mutu offers a meticulously selected collection of her transformative artworks for sale. Every acquisition directly champions the vital mission of SOS Children’s Village Kenya, providing critical support and a brighter future for abandoned and vulnerable children. This initiative merges the intense impact of art with essential humanitarian aid, offering a unique avenue for purposeful patronage.

About the Artist: Wangechi Mutu

Wangechi Mutu (b. 1972, Nairobi, Kenya) is a globally celebrated artist whose work profoundly impacts the international art scene. Mutu’s multidisciplinary approach spans paintings, sculptures, collages, and immersive installations. She navigates complex themes of gender, race, colonialism, and identity, offering a critical examination of societal norms and historical narratives.

Mutu’s unique style features intricate layering and a fusion of diverse elements. She often incorporates found materials, magazine cutouts, and organic substances, creating visually stunning and thematically rich compositions. Her art challenges conventional representations of the female form and confronts issues related to bodily autonomy and empowerment. Mutu earned her BFA from Parsons School of Design and her MFA from Yale University, an education that profoundly influenced her artistic perspective. She seamlessly blends African heritage with Western artistic techniques. Mutu splits her time between her studios in New York and Nairobi.

Her work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Tate Modern. Her pieces are held in the permanent collections of renowned institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. She is a recipient of numerous accolades, including Deutsche Bank’s “Artist of the Year” award and the Brooklyn Museum’s “Artist of the Year” award. Acquiring a work by Mutu is not only an act of philanthropy but also a strategic investment in an artist whose influence and market continue to grow globally.

Selected Artworks for a Cause: A Confluence of Art and Impact

Each artwork offered represents a powerful statement from one of contemporary art’s most vital voices. These pieces are not merely aesthetically compelling; they are imbued with deep social commentary and a commitment to transformation.

1. Misguided Little Unforgivable Hierarchies (2005)

• Medium: Ink, acrylic, collage, and contact paper on Mylar.
• Size: 81 x 52 inches (205.74 cm x 132.08 cm).
• Price: 4,000 € (transport included).

This seminal work is an insightful critique of societal power structures and the objectification of the female body. Mutu masterfully blends acrylic, ink, and diverse collage elements, drawing from sources like pornographic and motorcycle magazines. The dismembered, hybrid figures challenge viewers to confront unsettling realities. The subtle background, initially appearing decorative, reveals splatters resembling both blood and flowers. This duality highlights the violence of colonialism masked by aesthetic presentation. This piece is a powerful acquisition for any collection focusing on post-colonial discourse, feminist art, or contemporary collage. Its visual complexity and intellectual depth make it a significant investment.

Artist Wangechi Mutu Offers Unique Artworks to Help Children

2. How to Stab Oneself In The Back (2004)

• Medium: Sequins, ink, acrylic, contact paper, and photo collage on Mylar.
• Size: 80 × 42 1/2 in (203.2 × 108 cm
• Price: 5,500 € (transport included).

How to Stab Oneself In The Back by Wangechi Mutu is a compelling large-scale collage exploring identity and betrayal. The title, an idiom for self-inflicted harm, symbolizes women’s internal conflicts and societal pressures. Mutu’s use of collage with layered imagery and hand-drawn elements creates a figure both familiar and otherworldly, prompting contemplation on cultural narratives. This artwork powerfully conveys disjuncture, breakage, and inner turmoil, making it a significant piece.

3. Humming (2010)

• Medium: Ink, paint, and collage on Mylar.
• Size: 85½ x 75¾ inches (217.2 x 192.4 cm).
• Price: 4,000 € (transport included).

Humming is a vibrant and expansive mixed-media artwork. It features a commanding feminine figure, meticulously constructed from layered imagery. Mutu combines magazine clippings, medical illustrations, and vibrant paint. The work evokes powerful themes of cultural hybridization, gender, and race. The rich, intense color palette enhances its emotional impact. Mutu weaves these diverse elements into a compelling visual narrative. It explores transformation, drawing from both African mythology and contemporary politics. This piece is a testament to Mutu’s ability to create beauty from challenging subjects, offering collectors a visually stunning work with profound conceptual depth.

4. In Killing Fields Sweet Butterfly Ascend (2003)

• Medium: Ink, Mylar, polyester film.
• Size: 104 x 79 cm.
• Price: 3,500 € (transport included).

This poignant work reflects on themes of death, rebirth, and enduring beauty. Mutu uses her signature collage technique on Mylar to create a delicate yet powerful composition. The title itself suggests a metamorphosis amidst struggle. This piece reinforces Mutu’s ongoing commentary on the body as a site of conflict and renewal. Its intimate scale offers a personal engagement with the artist’s thematic concerns. It serves as an excellent entry point for new collectors seeking to acquire a significant work by a globally recognized artist.

Wangechi Mutu: Acquire Art with Purpose

An exclusive opportunity awaits collectors. To inquire about purchasing these significant works or to schedule a private viewing, please contact the artist through Facebook or Instagram. You can also visit her website. Every acquisition directly translates into tangible support for vulnerable children in Kenya, embodying the belief that humanity is a profound responsibility.