A traditional African figure standing alongside a computer motherboard might seem like an unlikely artistic pairing.
But for Nairobi-based visual artist Joyce Kuria, bringing together elements of African heritage and modern technology is part of how she explores identity, culture and the changing world.
Through ink illustrations and acrylic paintings, Kuria has developed a distinctive visual language that draws from Kenyan culture, nostalgia and retro-futurism. Her work combines familiar African imagery with unconventional ideas, including science fiction-inspired figures that blur the boundaries between humans and machines.
The result is art that looks backwards and forwards at the same time, preserving cultural references while imagining what African identity could look like in a technologically changing world.
Kuria studied Fine Art at Kenyatta University and has worked as a freelance visual artist and graphic designer since 2017. Her practice is centred on ink illustration and acrylic painting, although she also combines watercolour with pen and ink to create detailed compositions.
Her use of colour, gesture and texture gives her illustrations a distinctive character. Science fiction has also found its way into her paintings, with cyborg figures among the subjects she has explored.
This interest in combining seemingly unrelated worlds is also evident in her collaborative work with fellow artist Daisy Buyanzi under the name Wet Paint.
In some of their work, traditional male figures appear alongside contemporary technological imagery, including computer motherboards.
Beyond the ideas represented in her paintings, Kuria’s work also raises questions about how people can access and own art.
An original artwork is a one-of-a-kind creation made directly by the artist. It carries the individual marks of the creative process, from the artist’s choice of materials and technique to the decisions that shape the final composition.
For collectors, owning an original means possessing a piece that cannot be replicated in exactly the same way.
Prints, on the other hand, are reproductions of existing artworks. They allow an artist to produce multiple copies of a piece, usually on paper or canvas, making the work available to people who may not be able to afford an original.
Prints can be open edition, meaning an artist can produce as many copies as they wish, or limited edition, where production is restricted to a predetermined number. Limited-edition prints may be signed and numbered, adding to their collectibility.
Kuria has embraced this distinction by producing prints alongside her original paintings. She has also extended her work into smaller products such as stickers, fridge magnets, bookmarks and pins.
These items offer another entry point into her creative world, particularly for audiences interested in her illustrations but unable to invest in an original piece.
For an artist whose work brings together traditional African references and contemporary visual culture, prints and merchandise provide a way to take that conversation beyond the gallery or collector’s home.