NJERI KINUTHIA
Orlando, FL | njerikinuthia04@gmail.com | https://njerikinuthia.com/
EDUCATION
2024
MFA Emerging Media, Studio Art, and Design, University of Central Florida (UCF)
2019
B.Sc. Fashion Design and Marketing, Machakos University, Kenya
UPCOMING SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025
Ukombozi: Reclaiming Place and Self, HCC Art Gallery, Tampa, Florida
Threads of Freedom, Albin Polasek Museum in Winter Park, Florida
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Leso: WovenWomen, Snap Gallery, Orlando, Florida
EXHIBITIONS AND SHOWCASES
2025
FATE(Foundations in Art: Theory and Teaching) National Juried Exhibition | Gillespie Gallery, George Mason University, Virginia | Juried by Sheldon Scott| March to April (Forthcoming)
Cirles, ArtLofts, St Petersburg Florida | Women’s Caucus for Art Juried Show | July (Forthcoming)
Gillespie Invitational, Casselberry Arts Centre, Casselberry, Florida | Invited by the City of Casselberry Arts Supervisor, Justin Luper in Collaboration with the Gillespie Foundation | February-March (Forthcoming)
6000 Circle Exhibition, Granucci Gallery in The Center for the Arts, Grass Valley, California | March-April (Forthcoming)
2024
UCF Faculty Show, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Embracing our Roots, Honey Badger Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Meeting the Moment, Aiken Centre for the Arts, South Carolina
Florida Prize in Contemporary Art, Orlando Museum of Art, Florida. Nominated as 1 of 10 Most Progressive Artists in Florida by the Orlando Museum of Art Chief Curator Coralie Claeysen
UCF Celebrates the Arts, Dr. Phillips Centre, Orlando, Florida
ArtFields, Lake City, South Carolina. 485/1500 submissions accepted, juried by professionals from across the country
Family Fun Day at the Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando
Black Artistry Showcase, KPMG Accounting Firm, KPMG Lakehouse, Lake Nona, Florida
Art in the Garden Festival, Winter Park, Florida
Headspace, UCF MFA Thesis Group Show at the UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida
Black History Month Exhibition University of South Florida Centre Gallery, University of South Florida, Tampa
Space Station Orlando 10th Anniversary Show, Florida
2023
Platform Showcase, Orlando Museum of Art, Florida, 50/300 applications accepted
City Arts 3-Person Exhibition, City Arts Gallery, Downtown Orlando, Florida, sponsored by Disney
Eclat Law Exhibition, Eclat Gallery, Altamonte, Florida
UCF Celebrates the Arts, Dr. Phillips Centre, Orlando, Florida
Eclectic Knights, Orlando Museum of Art, Florida
2022
UCF Celebrates the Arts, Dr. Phillips Centre Orlando, Florida
2021
Sanaa Safi, Michael Joseph’s Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
2020
Portrayals II, Roweinay Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
Portrayals I, Village Market Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
2019
Aspects I, Village Market Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
Safari ya Sanaa, Garborg Centre, Stavanger, Norway
Safari ya Sanaa, Alliance Française, Mombasa, Kenya
My Tribe is Art, Karen Village, Nairobi, Kenya
Dancing Savannah, Tsavo National Park, Voi, Kenya
2018
Voi Arts Festival, Voi Arts Centre, Voi, Kenya
2017
Merit in Final Studio Exhibition, Machakos University, Kenya
Participation in Annual County Show, Machakos, Kenya
Participation and Merit award in Machakos University's Annual Innovation Week, Kenya
Participation in Kenya Fashion Awards, Nairobi, Kenya
2016
Annual County Show, Machakos Show Ground, Kenya
Participation in Kenya Fashion Awards Nairobi, Kenya
HONORS, AWARDS AND GRANTS
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
Joust New Venture Competition Finalist, University of Central Florida
Award for Excellence by a Graduate Student Researcher, University of Central Florida, $500
2023-2024 University Award for the Outstanding Graduate Creative Work, $1,500
2023-2024 UCF College of Arts and Humanities Award for Outstanding Graduate Creative Work
2023
Innovation in Arts Second-place Winner, University of Central Florida. Over 60 applications, $1,500
3MT (3-Minute Thesis) Finalist, University of Central Florida, Orlando
Outstanding Artist, Platform Show, Orlando Museum of Art, over 50 artworks exhibited
Disney City Arts Stipend, $265
United Arts Public Project Award, Orlando, Florida, selected among applicants across Central Florida to create a public installation celebrating the25th anniversary of the Orlando Arts Magazine. $5,000
Eclat Law Art Prize, Altamonte, Florida, $5,000
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
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
2019
Participation in a live portrait painting workshop by South American fine artist D. Gomez
Organization and participation in Dancing Savannah, African Art and Dance Festival
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-moment-njeri-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-and-scholarship-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-theses-in-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-cultural-artwork/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
ARTIST TALKS, LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS AND JURYING
2025
Artist Talk, Gillespie Invitational, Casselberry Arts Centre, Casselberry, Florida, March (Forthcoming)
Highschool Portfolio Review, Orlando Museum of Art, Florida, February (Forthcoming)
Youth Program Workshop, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park, Florida, Summer (Forthcoming)
Public Lecture, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park, Florida, Summer (Forthcoming)
Artist Talk, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park, Florida, May (Forthcoming)
Art Night Out Studio Class, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida, March (Forthcoming)
Art Sandwiched In Public Lecture, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida, Feb, (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/njeri-kinuthia/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
NOTABLE COLLECTIONS
Marini Naturals Haircare Company, Kenya
ManGo Development, Norway
NOTABLE COMMISSIONS
United Arts of Central Florida, Public Installation, Orlando
Mountain View School Mural, Kenya
Aubrey Newman’s Academy Mural, Kenya
MEMBERSHIPS
Women’s Caucus for Art, Florida Chapter, and National Chapter
Council of 101, Orlando Museum of Art
FATE (Foundations for Art: Education and Theory
VOLUNTEER WORK
Teaching art to children at Immanuel Afrika Children’s Home, Kenya, 2017 - 2020
Teaching art in a Muthama Charity School in Kenya, Kenya, 2019
Organizing Art Kid's programs during holidays under ManGo Organization, Kenya, 2017-2019