NJERI KINUTHIA
Orlando, FL | njerikinuthia04@gmail.com | https://njerikinuthia.com | 631-966-1321
EDUCATION
2024
MFA Emerging Media, Studio Art and Design, 3.98 GPA | University of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida
2019
B.S. Fashion Design and Marketing, Second Class Upper Honors | Machakos University, Machakos, Kenya
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025
Reconstruction: Mwacha Mila NiSi Mtumwa, Arts Centre Sarasota, Sarasota, Florida | Oct-Nov (Forthcoming)
Threads of Freedom, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park, Florida | May-August
Ukombozi: Reclaiming Place and Self, HCC Art Gallery, Tampa, Florida | January-April
2024
Leso: WovenWomen, Snap Gallery, Orlando, Florida | Invited by the Gallery Director, Patrick Kahn | Sept-Nov
HONORS, AWARDS, GRANTS AND STIPENDS
2025
University of Central Florida Travel Grant Award, $500, January
HCC 221 Gallery Professional Artist Stipend, Hillsborough Community College, Florida, $1500 |
January
2024
Florida Prize in Contemporary Art People’s Choice Award, Orlando Museum of Art, Florida, $2,500 | May
Joust New Venture Competition Finalist, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida | April
Award for Excellence by a Graduate Student Researcher, University of Central Florida, $500 | March
2023-2024 University Award for Outstanding Graduate Creative Work, University of Central Florida $1,500 | February
2023-2024 UCF College of Arts and Humanities Award for Outstanding Graduate Creative Work | January
Graduate Teaching Assistantship, University of Central Florida | January- April
2023
Innovation in Arts, Second-place Winner, University of Central Florida. Over 60 applications, $1,500 | November
3MT (3-Minute Thesis) semi-finalist, University of Central Florida, Orlando | November
Graduate Teaching Assistantship, University of Central Florida | August- December
Outstanding Artist, Platform Show, Orlando Museum of Art, over 50 artworks exhibited | July
Walt Disney City Arts Impact Grant, $265 | July
United Arts Public Project Award, Orlando, Florida, selected among applicants across Central
Florida to create a public installation celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Orlando Arts Magazine, $5,000 | July
Eclat Law Art Prize, Eclat Law Firm, Altamonte, Florida, $5,000 | July
2021
Provost’s Fellowship Award, University of Central Florida, Nominated as an outstanding applicant. Tuition, stipend, and health insurance, Fall 2021- Spring 2023, $20,000
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
Compartmentalize, National Juried Exhibition, Lakewood Cultural Centre, Colorado | May-August
FATE (Foundations in Art: Theory and Teaching) National Juried Exhibition | Gillespie Gallery,
George Mason University, Virginia | March to April
Gillespie Invitational, Casselberry Arts Centre, Casselberry, Florida | February-March
6000 Circle Exhibition, Granucci Gallery in The Center for the Arts, Grass Valley, California | March-April
2024
UCF Faculty Exhibition, UCF Art Gallery, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida | Oct-Nov
Embracing our Roots, Honey Badger Gallery, Brooklyn, New York | Invited by Belinda Aketch | August
Meeting the Moment, Aiken Centre for the Arts, South Carolina | Juried by Meredith Conelly | Sept
Florida Prize in Contemporary Art, Orlando Museum of Art, Florida | Nominated as 1/10 most progressive artists in Florida by the Orlando Museum of Art Chief Curator Coralie Claeysen | June-August (Catalogue)
UCF Celebrates the Arts, Dr. Phillips Centre for the Performing Arts, Orlando, Florida | April
12th Annual ArtFields, Lake City, South Carolina| May
Family Fun Day, Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando, Florida | Invited by the Curator of
Art and Education, Catherine Page | April
Black Artistry Showcase, KPMG Lakehouse, Lake Nona, Florida | February
Art in the Garden Festival, Cosgrove’s residence | Invited by the Cosgroves, Winter Park, Florida | March
Head Space, UCF MFA Thesis Group Show, UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida | February-March
Black History Month Exhibition, Centre Gallery, University of South Florida, University of South Florida, Tampa | February
10th Anniversary Show, Space Station Orlando, Florida | Invited by the Art Director, Aaron
Sarkisian | January
2023
Eclectic Knights, Orlando Museum of Art, Florida | September
Platform Showcase, Orlando Museum of Art, Florida | 50/300 applications accepted | July
City Arts three-person MFA Exhibition, Young Artist Gallery, City Arts Gallery, Downtown
Orlando, Florida, sponsored by the Walt Disney Impact Grant | July
Eclat Law Exhibition and Awarding Ceremony, Eclat Gallery, Altamonte, Florida | May-August
UCF Celebrates the Arts, Dr. Phillips Centre for the Performing Arts, Orlando, Florida | April
2022
UCF Celebrates the Arts, Dr. Phillips Centre for the Performing Arts, Orlando, Florida | April
2020
Portrayals II, Roweinay Gallery, Roslyn Riviera Mall, Nairobi, Kenya | Invited by Kenyan Artist
Patrick Kinuthia | September
2019
Sanaa Safi, Michael Joseph’s Centre, Safaricom House, Nairobi, Kenya | Sept-Oct
Aspects II, Village Market Gallery, Invited by Kenyan Artist Patrick Kinuthia | Nairobi, Kenya | July
Safari ya Sanaa, Garborg Centre, Stavanger, Norway | July
Dancing Savannah, Tsavo National Park, Voi, Kenya | July
Safari ya Sanaa, Alliance Française, Mombasa, Kenya | April
My Tribe is Art, Karen Village Arts Centre, Nairobi, Kenya | March
2018
Final Studio Exhibition, Machakos University, Machakos Kenya | Nov
Voi Arts Festival, Voi Arts Centre, Voi, Kenya | Feb
2017
Annual County Show, Machakos Show Ground, Machakos, Kenya | June
Kenya Fashion Awards, Michael Joseph’s Centre, Safaricom House, Nairobi, Kenya | July
Annual Innovation Week, Machakos University, Kenya | February
2016
Kenya Fashion Awards, Michael Joseph’s Centre, Safaricom House, Nairobi, Kenya | October
Annual County Show, Machakos Show Ground, Machakos, Kenya | June
2015
Public Lecture Showcase, Machakos University, Machakos, Kenya | October
ARTIST TALKS, LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS AND JURYING
2025
Create Without Boundaries Mixed Media Classes, Art and History Museum Maitland, Florida, July-August
Collage Workshop, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park, Florida, August (Forthcoming)
Youth Program Workshop, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park, Florida, July (Forthcoming)
Nature Meets Pattern Collage Workshop, Art and History Museum Maitland, July
Artist Talk, Gillespie Invitational, Casselberry Arts Centre, Casselberry, Florida, March
Highschool Portfolio Review, Orlando Museum of Art, Florida, February
Florida Free Thought Community Public Lecture, Winter Park, April
Polasek Nights, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park, Florida, May
Artist Panel Talk, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park, Florida, June
Art Night Out Studio Class, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida, March (Forthcoming)
Artist Talk, HCC221 (Hillsborough Community College) Gallery, Tampa, Florida, January
2024
Florida Prize in Contemporary Art Artist Talk, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida, August
Creative Mornings Speaker, Orlando, Florida https://creativemornings.com/talks/njerikinuthia/1
Family Fun Day Collage Workshop, Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando, Florida, April
Student Scholar Symposium, University of Central Florida Poster Competition, March
Stars of Hope Workshops, KPMG Lake House, Lake Nona, in collaboration with the Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida, February
2023
3MT (3-Minute Thesis) Competition, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, November
Artist Talk, Éclat Gallery, Altamonte, Orlando, Florida | August
Jurying, Platform Show, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida | October
2019
Dancing Savannah, African Art and Dance Festival organization and participation | July
Jurying, Safari ya Sanaa, Alliance Française, Mombasa, Kenya | April
BIBLIOGRAPHY, MEDIA, INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES
2025
Luis Ringual, “The Textile Poet: Material Witness” Florida Design Magazine, December
2024
David Dumke, “Global Perspectives”, PBS Interview | Dec https://video.pbs12.org/video/njeri-kinuthia-rveue8/
Kyle Eagle “Local artist Njeri Kinuthia takes the People’s Choice award in Orlando Museum of Art’s annual Prize exhibition’, Orlando Weekly (Featured on the Cover) July
Patrick Connoly, “Orlando Museum of Art Names Florida Prize Winner from 10 Artists Showing Diversity Sunshine State” Orlando Sentinel | May
Orlando Museum of Art Florida Prize in Contemporary Art Catalogue | Summer
Florida Prize in Contemporary Art Exhibit Highlights | Orange Appeal Magazine | May/June (pg
22)
https://issuu.com/orangeappealmagazine/docs/oa-0524_issuu
Mila Chial, “Graduating Kenyan Artist Uses Work to Advocate for Change”, UCF Today UCF Stories of Impact | April
https://www.ucf.edu/news/graduating-kenyan-artist-uses-work-to-advocate-for-change/
Zeny Fesh, “A Vibrant and Free Spirit: An Afternoon with Njeri Kinuthia” Women in the Arts Interview | April https://www.womeninthearts.org/women-in-the-arts-news/blog-04032025
Kyle Eagle “Best Feel Moment: Njeri Kinuthia Wins People’s Choice Award in OMA’s Florida Prize” Orlando Weekly | August https://www.orlandoweekly.com/best-of/2024/arts-entertainment/best-feel-good-momentnjeri-kinuthia-wins-peoples-choice-award-in-omas-florida-prize-37590504
Mila Chial, Graduate Student Profile, College of Arts and Humanities, University of Central Florida https://graduate.ucf.edu/profile/njeri-kinuthia
Mila Chial, “Celebrating Graduate Excellence in Research, Mentorship, and Scholarship at UCF”, UCF Today | April https://www.ucf.edu/news/celebrating-graduate-excellence-in-research-mentorship-andscholarship-at-ucf/
Gabriela da Cunha “Head Space: Graduate students expose their theses in UCF Art Gallery” NSM Today | March http://www.nicholsonstudentmedia.com/head-space-graduate-students-expose-their-thesesin-ucf-art-gallery/collection_fcda912a-d6af-11ee-969f-73dbc82bef72.html
Michael McLeod “Five Creators Mark 25 Years of UA’s Iconic Magazine”, Artistry Magazine | Jan/Feb (pg 23) https://bluetoad.com/publication/?i=810790&p=24&view=issueViewer
3 Minute Thesis, UCF College of Graduate Studies | April https://youtu.be/L1z9TMhCB7M?si=kTGao-LJpNtRpKZ3
2023
Kat Quast, City Arts Gallery Director, Artist Interview | July
Marisol Merced “MFA Student Wins Scholarship Through Cultural Work” NSM Today | May http://www.nicholsonstudentmedia.com/life/mfa-student-wins-scholarship-through-culturalartwork/article_3ce79ab0-f911-11ed-96d4-776e5930f538.html
Myshala Liddick, “Graduate Student Njeri Kinuthia Receives $5,000 from the 2023 Éclat Law Prize” CAH News
https://news.cah.ucf.edu/news/2023-eclat-law-prize-njeri-kinuthia/
Myshala Liddick, UCF MFA student Njeri Kinuthia’s work will be featured in Snap! Orlando’s mural exhibition, UCF ArtBytes | Sept https://news.cah.ucf.edu/news/art-bytes-fall-2023/
2019
Good Morning Kenya, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Kenya | Feb
Artprenuer Show, Interview on Y254 TV, Kenya | Feb
2018
“God Helg, Safari ya Sanaa exhibition”, Norwegian Newspaper Jaebladet | July
Jairus Ongetta, “Redefine Show”, Interview on Signs TV
WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES
2025
FATE (Foundations in Art: Theory and Teaching) Annual Conference |Presenting my work at the
National Juried FATE Exhibition | Gillespie Gallery, George Mason University, Virginia
(Forthcoming)
2024
Women’s Caucus for Art (WCA) Annual Conference, Rockville, Maryland | June
2019
Live Portrait Painting Workshop by South American fine artist D. Gomez, Nairobi, Kenya | Nov
2015
Designerly Inspiration for Africa’s Emancipation Public Lecture, Organization and Participation, Machakos University, Kenya | Oct
TEACHING/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SPRING 2025
Full-time Visiting Lecturer, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida. 2 sections of ART
3951C Design Intensive, ART 2201C Design Fundamentals 2D, ART 2203C Design Fundamentals
3D
FALL 2024
Full-time Visiting Lecturer, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida. ART 2201C Design Fundamentals 2D, ART 2500C Beginning Painting, ART 3161 C Mixed Media
Studio Art and Design Portfolio Committee, School of Visual Arts and Design, University of
Central Florida
SPRING 2024
Instructor of Record, Graduate Teaching Associate, University of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida. ART 2201C Design Fundamentals 2D, ART 2500C, Beginning Painting
FALL 2023
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida. ART 2500C Beginning Painting, ART 2201C Design Fundamentals 2D
MEMBERSHIPS
(FATE) Foundations in Art: Theory and Education
Women’s Caucus for Art, Florida, National, and the Young Women’s Caucus Chapters
Council of 101, Orlando Museum of Art
NOTABLE COMMISSIONS
United Arts of Central Florida, Public Installation, Orlando
Mountain View School Mural, Kenya
Aubrey Newman’s Academy Mural, Kenya
NOTABLE COLLECTIONS
Marini Naturals Haircare Company, Kenya
ManGo Development, Norway
VOLUNTEER WORK
2024 - Current
Council 101, Orlando Museum of Art, fundraising and working at the museum, Orlando, Florida 2017 - 2020
Immanuel Afrika Children’s Home, teaching art to underprivileged children, Kenya
2017- 2019
Muthama Charity School, the Hadassah Project, teaching art to children, Muthama, Kenya
Organizing Kids Art Programs, ManGo Organization, Nairobi and Mombasa Kenya