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

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/arts/local-artist-njeri-kinuthia-takes-the-peoples-choiceaward-in-orlando-museum-of- arts-annual-prize-exhibition-37444877  

Patrick Connoly, “Orlando Museum of Art Names Florida Prize Winner from 10 Artists Showing Diversity Sunshine State” Orlando Sentinel | May

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/05/31/orlando-museum-names-florida-prize-winnerfrom-10-artists-showcasing-diversity-sunshine-state/

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