Kimanthi Donkor

Kimathi Donkor is a contemporary artist who lives and works in London, England. His solo exhibitions include Kimathi Donkor: Notebooks at Brixton Library (London, 2021), Some Clarity of Vision at Gallery MOMO (Johannesburg, 2015), Queens of the Undead at Iniva (London, 2012) and Fall/Uprising at the Bettie Morton Gallery, (London, 2005). Group exhibitions include War Inna Babylon at the ICA, London 2021, the Diaspora Pavilion (57th Venice Biennale, 2017), Untitled: Art on the Conditions of Our Time at the New Art Exchange (Nottingham, 2017, touring to Kettle’s Yard (Cambridge, 2021) and the 29th São Paulo Biennial (Brazil, 2010). He is the recipient of awards, residencies and commissions including the 2011 Derek Hill Painting Scholarship for The British School at Rome and the 2019 De’Longhi Art Projects Artist Award.


Donkor’s work re-imagines mythic, legendary and everyday encounters across Africa and its global Diasporas, principally in painting, but also through drawing, video, assemblage, collage, digital design, performance and installation. His paintings address historic figures like Toussaint L’Ouverture and Harriet Tubman, as well as contemporary themes such as urban political dissent or the pursuit of leisure, beauty and knowledge.

Kamithi Donkor talked about this work Toussaint L’ouverture at Bedourete painted in 2004 148 cm by 194 cm with oil paint on linen.
A fantastic picture depicting the Haitian revolution with the fighters in the foreground mirroring Napoleon crossing the Alps.

Under fire is a good example of Kamithi Donokor’s use of politics and the injustices directed towards the black populace.
Cherry Groce was shot by Inspector Lovelock of the Metropolitan Police Service on 28 September 1985 during the course of an armed raid on her family home in Brixton, South London.

Not all the pictures depict black trauma and Call me blessed is an idyllic scene where two women are enjoying the pleasant afternoon of a summer’s day.

Kamithi Donokor throughout his talk is such a pleasant and conscientious orator and I found his artwork to be inspiring; I love how he delves into these subjects with fervour but not only is he an accomplished artist he is genuine and heartfelt in his approach.