Leaving a well-paying career job to delve into the world of business has often been seen as a risky move by many.
But for Wangari Mathenge, it was nothing but a challenge worth facing.
Here is her story as narrated by AwuorInspirational Hub:
Having spent much of her life in Kenya, Mathenge and her family relocated to London after her father received a diplomatic assignment for five years.
Mathenge initially pursued a career in finance but soon grew bored and shifted her focus to law. She earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and began working for an insurance company.
Despite these achievements, she felt restless and unfulfilled. “I quickly realized I was just moving from thing to thing and not finding my place,” she stated.
In her quest for true purpose, Mathenge began taking classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, marking the start of her journey into the art world.
“I kept on asking myself, ‘5 years, 10 years down the road, will you look back and regret it?’ And you start thinking, ‘Why didn’t I just do it?’ It’s scary, and I think that’s why you should do it,” she affirmed.
During her first semester, Mathenge hosted her first solo exhibition, “Aura of Quiet,” in Los Angeles. Art school transformed her approach to drawing, pushing her to apply critical thinking to her work.
Her paintings are influenced by Alice Neel, a renowned American visual artist from the 1900s. “Paint lends itself to blending really well; in drawing, you’re working hard to blend. Paint as a wet medium naturally wants to blend,” she stated.
Mathenge’s art has achieved international acclaim, with exhibitions in London, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Milan, and Frankfurt. Her record-selling painting, “Supplication in Alabaster,” sold for Ksh4 million at Phillips London in 2022, while the lowest price for her paintings is around Ksh2 million.
Mathenge’s work was also recognized by the Crockery Art Museum. The museum curator, Francesca Wilmot, was captivated by Mathenge’s art during a solo show in Los Angeles and promptly purchased the massive painting “Home Sweet Home” for Ksh14 million.
