June 1 - July 2, 2026
Opening Reception: Monday, June 1, 2026, 5 - 7 PM
“The ARTiculate Narratives is a unique initiative that goes beyond sharing artworks and images—it shares lives, truths, and silent hopes. Art has the sacred power to speak the unspoken, heal the unseen, and open windows into the dignity of every human soul.” - Mr. Augustine Kulandai Raj, Director of Arulchandru School for Children with Neurodisabilities in Tamil Nadu, India
College Park, MD. The Stamp Gallery is pleased to host The ARTiculate Narratives Project (articulatenarratives.com) in an exhibition featuring 18 artists based throughout Kenya. The ARTiculate Narratives Project is a non-profit initiative committed to empowering marginalized Kenyan artists and Indian children with neurodisabilities through the transformative potential of art. At its core, the project seeks to amplify underrepresented voices, bridge cultural gaps, and provide creative avenues for individuals who have historically been excluded from the artistic world. By nurturing these communities through mentorship, scholarship, and professional development, this endeavor not only celebrates their untold stories but also fosters inclusion and catalyzes social change.
The ARTiculate Narratives exhibition invites viewers into deeply personal yet profoundly universal experiences, revolving around themes of identity, mental health, gender-based violence, digital addiction, environmental conservation, political corruption, displacement, and more. Across borders, generations, and backgrounds, these narratives echo the shared human desire to be seen, heard, understood, and valued.
This exhibition is supported by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org), Arts for All, Do Good, and Pepsi grants.
Featuring Millen Akinyi, George Breamy, Patricia Githae, Shammah Kapukha, James Kidiga, Daniel Kobimbo, Philip Kobimbo, Rosebell Lukoye, Joseph Muchomba, Dennis Mutugi, Peter Ngunju, Edith Nyanchama, Wanyama Ogutu, Owino Omondi, Mercy Tumaini, Winnie Wanjohi, Paul Waweru, and Ben Were.
ABOUT THE CURATOR
Amrutha Alibilli is the founder of the ARTiculate Narratives Project, an endeavor that blossomed through the Do Good Accelerator Fellowship. She is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, pursuing a double degree in Neuroscience and Spanish with a minor in Data Science. Her artistic spirit shines through her dedication to Kuchipudi, an Indian classical dance form she has practiced since age 10. As former co-captain of Moksha, the university’s competitive Indian classical dance team, she collaborates with peers to weave contemporary music with traditional movements to champion social justice themes. Through the ARTiculate Narratives Project, she hopes to highlight hidden voices and champion artistic talent from underrepresented communities around the world. Her vision is to redefine art not only as a form of expression but as a catalyst for healing, empowerment, and reform.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Millen Akinyi is a visual artist and student at the Buruburu Institute of Fine Art, specializing in creative expression through painting and storytelling. She holds a certificate in art and is currently expanding her skills in printing techniques. Millen’s work is inspired by everyday life, emotions, and the beauty of human connection, blending vibrant colors with meaningful narratives. Through her art, she hopes to inspire, heal, and spark conversations that matter.
George Breamy is a visual artist and graphic designer from Buruburu Institute of Fine Art with over seven years of experience across various fields of graphic design and creative expression. His artistic work is deeply inspired by the everyday struggles, hopes, and realities people face while pursuing success in life. Through drawing and design, he aims to tell emotional and relatable stories that reflect society, resilience, and human ambition. His art combines creativity and social reflection to inspire, educate, and connect with different audiences.
Patricia Githae is a self-taught artist whose artistic journey began in 2020. In 2024, she joined the Bururburu Institute of Fine Arts. Inspired by her mental health struggles, she seeks to make the invisible visible— to offer comfort, provoke thought, and create space for healing. Her mixed-media works also serve as a form of environmental activism, drawing attention to the fragile relationship between humanity and the environment. These pieces invite viewers to reconsider their impact on the earth, calling for restoration, respect for nature, and a deeper connection to the natural world.
Shammah Kapukha is a Nairobi-based visual artist whose practice moves between expressionism, impressionism, and abstraction. His work uses color, form, and rhythm as a visual language to express what often lives beyond words. His practice becomes a space where he wrestles with identity, faith, and the fragile beauty of the human experience. Each brushstroke carries traces of his story, his questions, and his pursuit of God’s presence in everyday life. Beyond the studio, he is the founder of @RT Hub, a platform that disciples and empowers artists to embrace their God-given identity, in addition to Hope Unfolds, dedicated to raising awareness and hope for those living with sickle cell disease. Kapukha creates work that seeks to spark conversation, healing, and connection across borders.
James Ebeneza Kidiga is a self-taught visual artist who is passionate about celebrating African culture and beauty through contemporary storytelling. Based in Kenya, Kidiga creates photorealistic works that merge tradition with modern expression. His art explores identity, heritage, and the human spirit, drawing inspiration from African narratives and everyday life. Each piece reflects patience, growth, and a deep sense of cultural pride.
Daniel Otieno Kobimbo is a Nairobi-based lawyer and artist working primarily in oil and soft pastels, with additional explorations in watercolor, acrylics, spray painting, and digital media. Rooted in nature and landscapes, his work reflects both personal heritage and contemporary culture. He has also produced digital album art and promotional materials during his five-year engagement in music journalism, and has notably painted a statue of the Madonna carrying baby Jesus, which was later blessed by Pope Francis. Kobimbo’s practice bridges tradition and experimentation, aiming to create art that resonates locally and internationally. Ultimately, he believes in the importance of pursuing artistic expression as a lifelong goal, as it draws us closer to the most important purpose in our lives: the pursuit of happiness and all that is good.
Philip Kobimbo is an artist and educator whose journey began with childhood sketches copied from newspapers onto scraps of paper. Kobimbo holds a diploma in Art and Design and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, and he has taught in Kenya and Botswana for nearly two decades. Deeply committed to access and equity, Kobimbo founded the Kenya Centre for Art and Design, a studio-gallery and art school dedicated to mentoring passionate youth excluded from traditional institutions.
Rosebell C. Lukoye is a painter skilled in various media and art forms, including painting, mixed media, yarn, and fabric. She received a B.A degree in Fine Art and Design from Kenyatta University. As a child, Rosebell displayed signs of innate talent in both painting and crafts, which her parents helped her develop. The continued support she received from her family cemented Rosebell’s confidence and desire to explore her creativity, which has since expanded and evolved.
Joseph Muchomba is a talented visual artist at the Kenya Centre for Art and Design in Nairobi, Kenya. His work explores the intersection of memory, nature, and identity, drawing on a background in fine art and graphic design. Muchomba combines society and community, using symbolism and contemporary techniques to create pieces that represent the voices of people and nature, resonating both emotionally and spiritually.
Dennis Mutugi is a Kenyan fine artist working primarily in oil on canvas, with a focus on landscape painting and human portraiture. His work captures the sweeping vistas and intimate stories of East Africa, rendered with rich texture and atmospheric light. Dennis served as resident fine artist at The Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp in Maasai Mara, owned by Marriott International, where he created site-specific pieces inspired by the surrounding wildlife and Maasai culture.
Peter Ngunju is an artist whose practice centers on drawing and painting. Named after his late grandfather, Ngunju discovered his talent after completing primary school in Oloosurutia. Despite social and financial challenges, Ngunju pursued formal training at the Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts alongside his sister. Though his studies were cut short due to financial constraints, his commitment to art has remained constant. For Ngunju, art is inseparable from his identity, a force to which he will always return.
Edith Nyanchama is a visual artist currently studying at the Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts. As both a designer and illustrator, she combines traditional drawing skills with digital design techniques to produce unique and impactful artwork. Her work reflects a keen eye for detail, a solid understanding of design principles, and a strong appreciation for visual storytelling. Nyanchama aspires to use her talent and education to influence visual culture and make a lasting impact in the world of art and design.
Wanyama Ogutu is a Nairobi-based scholar in the Master of Arts (Fine Art) at Kenyatta University, and a practicing artist specializing in drawing, painting, and sculpture. His study focuses on Painting, its philosophy, education, and extension to African Art. Wanyama has a passion for fine art research, its philosophy, development, and relevance. He writes on profound academic topics, which are presented and published in international journals and conferences worldwide.
Owino Stephen Omondi is a mixed-media creative who moves fluidly across digital media, canvas painting, murals, and design. His greatest inspiration lies in the complexities of the human experience, relationships, and the mysterious nature of reality itself. Based in Nairobi, he has collaborated with numerous institutions and fellow artists across the city. Wycotte uses art as a medium to tell stories, express emotion, question reality, and rebel against societal norms. His work advocates for freedom, both human and ecological, seeking to blur the boundary between nature and human activity.
Mercy Tumaini is a student at the Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts, studying graphic design. She is dedicated to her craft. She is also an artist, model, and a good singer—not an ordinary singer but a Worshipper.
Winnie Wambui Wanjohi, known artistically as Kawint, is a visual artist and illustrator based in Nairobi, Kenya, with skills in both traditional and digital media. She identifies as a storyteller, and her work explores daily life and culture, capturing quiet, powerful moments through expressive line and character. Kawint has illustrated a published book for learners and has been working on a project that portrays diverse cultures from around the world.
Paul Waweru was born in Nairobi and grew up at the Maisha Mazuri child center. Developing a passion for art at a young age, he enrolled at the Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts for formal art training, where he met teachers such as Mr. Philip Kobimbo, who taught him and collaborated with him on projects. In addition to drawing and painting, he also works as a rapper.
Ben Were is pursuing a Diploma in Graphic Design as a third-year student at Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts in Nairobi, Kenya. He will be graduating next year. He is a fine artist, specializing in pencil sketches and painting.
ABOUT THE GALLERY
Located on the first floor of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union—Center for Campus Life at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Stamp Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting contemporary art, especially the work of emerging and mid-career artists. The Stamp Gallery supports contemporary art that is challenging, academically engaging, and attuned to broad community and social issues. Through meaningful exhibitions and programming, the Gallery offers outside-of-the-classroom experiential learning opportunities. It functions as a laboratory where emerging artists and curators experiment and work through their ideas. The Gallery’s programming aims to emphasize the importance of process to contemporary artistic practice and to provide a forum for dialogue.
FREE and open to the public.
Gallery Summer hours: Mondays–Fridays: 12 pm - 5 pm, Sundays: Closed.
More information: stamp.umd.edu/gallery