Robert Mugambi will open his studio to the public from August 22 to September 5 at Kobo Trust on Riara Road, Nairobi. The open studio is presented by Seven Artists Collective and is curated by Onyis Martin.
Mugambi will showcase Silent World, an ongoing series exploring people absorbed in reading to celebrate the transformative power of books and the spiritual connection with reading books.
The series depicts facial expressions and postures that emerge while reading. He captures readers in different emotions of happiness, sadness, curiosity and anticipation as they are immersed in a story.
Sometimes you are reading, sleeping on your stomach; sometimes legs up on the wall. I am trying to capture all that. The books are talking to you,” he says.
While Mugambi doesn’t consider himself a bookworm, he recalls reading a book which he found engaging.
“I loved the book because I found it interesting. I am trying to capture the facial expressions and posture when I am reading the book,” he says.
His creative process for Silent World started with his response to the book that inspired the series. He first painted his friend, Esther Wangui, while she was reading, using a photograph she had taken.
The piece, Untitled, features her in three different postures while reading. In one pose, she is searching for a page; in another, she is comfortably reading with her leg against the wall; and in the third, she is seated on a bed. He later began taking his own photographs and using them as references for his paintings.
While he works primarily with oils on canvas, he started sketching in a book, and he built on that idea. In this series, he has returned to canvas by using paintings to explore readers’ expressions, body language and relationships with books.
The open studio will feature 15 works, including completed paintings and works in progress. Mugambi will conduct a live painting session and discuss some of the works with visitors.
The decision to open his studio follows his experience participating in group open studios with Seven Artists Collective. This time, he wanted to present his work independently and give audiences an opportunity to encounter several pieces from the series in one space.
“I want people to interact with my work with many pieces together in one room. The open studio allows visitors to see the process and the completed pieces. I want the audience to tell the story themselves,” he says.
His studio environment has influenced the development of his practice. Working alongside more experienced artists has given him opportunities to seek advice such as on colour and composition.
The environment has also encouraged him to work on big canvases. He says that he previously blended his brushstrokes but has since become more comfortable allowing the strokes to remain visible in the finished work.
“A typical day at the studio starts with me making coffee, talking with fellow artists or playing Ludo before settling down to work. I then sketch or paint,” he shares.
He sees open as important platforms for making art more accessible. They bring together artists, collectors and audiences while creating opportunities for conversations and learning.
During the open studio, he hopes to engage with collectors and fellow artists and share the development of his work. He also sees such events as potential opportunities for future solo and group exhibitions.
Mugambi works with human figures, exploring the connection of the human form and themes of identity and the shared narratives that define our lives.
He has participated in several group exhibitions: Matrix and Multiples at Kobo Gallery in 2026; New Wave at OneOff Contemporary Gallery, Nairobi, in June 2025; UBS Investment at Manzila House, Nairobi, in 2025; Shifting Tides at Kobo Gallery in 2024; the HRDA Exhibition at the Denmark Embassy in 2024; and Musing in Colour at Kobo Gallery/Tewasart Gallery in 2024.
His works have been collected locally and internationally. He works from Seven Artists Studio on Riara Road, Nairobi.
