Agnes Waruguru

This work has been kindly donated by the artist

Lamu, Saba Studios, 2019 (another version)

Agnes Waruguru's ongoing beading project reflects her dedication to learning through traditional craft practices, exploring material histories, and engaging in conversations with artisans. This process involves tracing the evolution of production methods and cultural practices that intersect. The use of beadwork serves as a material by which to ‘draw’ within her larger textile works, characterized by repetition and a commitment to slowness and care as tools for learning and memory production. Furthermore, Waruguru's artistic expression spans various mediums, encompassing painting, drawing, printmaking, needlework, and installation. Central to her explorations is the materiality of objects within space, a theme deeply intertwined with her own sense of personal identity, often drawing inspiration from women's practices and traditional cultural markers such as costume and the domestic space. Waruguru holds a BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design in the USA and has exhibited her work in various countries including the United States, France, South Africa, and Kenya. She has just completed a two year residency at the Rijkakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam.