RASTO CYPRIAN

Size: 48 x 54 inches
Medium: Oil on canvas

Born in 2001, Cyprian is a self-taught mixed-media artist from Kenya. His artistic journey began in 2013 through the Uweza Foundation’s art program, where he transitioned from drawing with pencils and paper to painting on canvas. Over the years, he has refined his craft by engaging with local art spaces and drawing inspiration from artists like Onyis Martin, Francis Bacon, and Chuck Close, as well as the Italian masters.

Cyprian’s work explores themes of time and memory, often using a reductive process—scrubbing, layering, and collaging—to create textured, patterned compositions. His art blends vibrant and muted tones, serving as both a personal necessity and a space of mental refuge. Currently, he is pursuing Education Arts at the Presbyterian University of East Africa, majoring in English and Literature.

Artist’s Note:
“My work captures photographs and images as vessels of memory—moments of joy, sorrow, and reflection, preserved and relived through art.”