Studio visits, scene notes, cause stories

THE JOURNAL

written by the people holding the scissors

Featured story

Hanging Art on Awkward Walls: Corners, Narrow Strips, and Sloped Ceilings

What to actually do with the walls that don't fit any standard hanging advice — narrow hallway strips, corners, alcoves, and sloped ceiling lines.

Njeri Wachira · 11 Sept 2026 · 10 min read

What It Actually Costs to Run an Art Gallery (The Numbers Nobody Publishes)

Njeri Wachira · 10 min read

Wall Colour and Art: How Paint Behind a Painting Changes How It Looks

The ArtCollect Desk · 10 min read

Turning a Blank Wall Into a Gallery Wall: A Weekend Project Walkthrough

Otieno Odhiambo · 10 min read

The Nairobi Gallery Crawl: How to Actually Plan a One-Day Circuit

Njeri Wachira · 10 min read

Styling a Room Around a Piece of Art, Instead of the Other Way Around

The ArtCollect Desk · 10 min read

Lighting Art on Walls: A Practical Guide That Isn't Just "Buy a Picture Light"

Otieno Odhiambo · 10 min read

How to Hang Art on Concrete Walls in Kenya (Without Wrecking the Wall)

Njeri Wachira · 10 min read

Gallery Walls: How to Actually Group Multiple Pieces of Art

The ArtCollect Desk · 10 min read

Choosing Artwork for a Wall: A Room-by-Room Guide

Otieno Odhiambo · 10 min read

Built-In Art Niches and Recessed Wall Displays: Worth It or Not?

Njeri Wachira · 10 min read

What Is an Art Gallery, Really? A Nairobi Visitor's Guide

Otieno Odhiambo · 10 min read

Abstract? Figurative? Impressionist? What People Actually Mean by These Words

Njeri Wachira · 10 min read

Gallery Art vs. Everywhere Else: What Actually Gets Curated

The ArtCollect Desk · 10 min read

How to Donate a Painting in Kenya (A Step-by-Step Walkthrough)

Otieno Odhiambo · 11 min read

Acrylic Painting Explained: The Medium, the History, and Why It Suits Nairobi

Njeri Wachira · 10 min read

Interview Practice: Talking to Artists About Their Work

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

Buying straight from the artist: what changes with no gallery markup

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

What actually happens at an opening night, and how to get in

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

A practical guide to starting your first art collection

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

How much is your artwork actually worth? A practical first read

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Why donate to an art cause instead of just buying a piece

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

Where your donation actually goes: inside the Kibera Walls Fund

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Five community walls that raised themselves this year

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Studio visit: Wanjiku Mwangi on cutting a city into a face

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

Why collage owns the Nairobi wall right now

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

The Future of Art Fairs in East Africa

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

Building an Art Library: Books Every Collector Needs

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Art Crime and Forgery: Protecting Yourself

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

The Collector's Home: Lighting, Walls, and Placement

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

Shipping Art Safely Within East Africa

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Why Provenance Matters More Than You Think

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

The Night Economy: How Kutus Built a Scene

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

Understanding Artist Commissions: A Buyer's Guide

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Conservation Framing: Protecting What You Buy

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

The Saturday Market Circuit: Where Art Meets Trade

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

From Student to Practitioner: Art Schools in Kenya

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Public Art and the City: Who Pays for the Walls?

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

The Role of Women in East Africa's Art Market

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

Collecting on a Budget: Starting Under KES 20,000

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Art and Technology: Digital Walls, Online Sales

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

The Rise of Studio Visits: Seeing Work Where It's Made

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

How Art Collecting Builds Community in East Africa

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Donating Artwork vs Donating Money: The Honest FAQ

Otieno Odhiambo · 3 min read

Is My Art Donation Tax Deductible in Kenya?

Njeri Wachira · 3 min read

M-Pesa Checkout on TikoYetu: A Step-by-Step Guide

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

How TikoYetu QR Tickets Work: From Payment to the Door

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Gallery Representation: What Changed in 2025

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

The Secondary Market for East African Painting

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

Price Tiers: From KES 15,000 Prints to Studio Originals

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

East African Art Market: Q4 2026 Preview

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

Sound Art and Installation: A Collector's Primer

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

East African Textile Art: From Kanga to Contemporary Fibre

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

Figurative Art Trends: Why the Figure Keeps Coming Back

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

The Sculptural Art Market: An Introduction

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Art Photography Collecting: What to Look For

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

Limited Edition Prints: A Collector's Guide

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

Digital Art Collecting: Where to Begin

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Abstract Art Collecting: Start Here

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

From Donation to Wall: How We Track Your Gift

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

A Donor's Field Guide to Funding Art Education

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Community Art Programs in Kenya: What Actually Works

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

Why Twenty Small Donations Beat One Big Cheque

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

Girls Who Print: Inside the Mombasa Screen-Printing Workshop

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Artist Residency Opportunities Across East Africa

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

Volunteer With Us: Supporting the Arts With Your Time

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Art Collector Networking: Building Your Circle in East Africa

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

Become an Art Patron: Getting Involved Beyond Buying

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

How to Host a Private Gallery Viewing

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Member Spotlight: Collectors and Artists in Our Community

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

Color Theory in Contemporary Art: Why Palette Is Meaning

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

The Artist Career Path: Making It in Contemporary Art

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

How Artworks Are Valued: The Factors That Move Prices

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

Art Terminology Explained: The Collector's Glossary

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

How to Authenticate Artwork: Red Flags and Real Checks

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

How to Read an Artwork: A Critical Analysis Guide

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Art Movements Explained: A Timeline You Can Actually Use

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Art Conservation 101: Preserving Art in East African Climates

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

Understanding Contemporary Art: A Plain-Language Guide

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

Art Collection Tips for Beginners: Your First Ten Works

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

How to Start an Art Collection on Any Budget

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

The Beginner's Guide to Art Collecting

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

Art Valuation Services: The Four Times You Need One

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

Investment-Grade Art: What Collectors Actually Mean by It

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Where to Buy Contemporary Art in East Africa

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

Buying Original Art Online: The Safety Checklist

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

Art Insurance: Protecting a Collection You Love

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

Common Mistakes That Destroy Artwork Value

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

Art Provenance Research: Why Your Artwork's History Matters

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Is Art a Good Investment? An Honest Market Analysis

Njeri Wachira · 4 min read

What Professional Art Appraisal Really Costs (and When You Need It)

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

How to Value Your Artwork: A Complete Guide

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

How to Choose Art That Appreciates (Without a Crystal Ball)

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

Contemporary Art Market Trends: An East African Reading

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Limited Edition Prints vs Original Paintings: What Collectors Should Know

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

Emerging Artists to Collect Now: The Kenya Edition

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

How to Buy Original Art: The Beginner's Guide

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Artist Talks and Panels: Questions Worth Asking Out Loud

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

The Annual Art Gala: Why the Big Night Matters

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

Charity Art Auctions: How Bidding Works From Start to Hammer

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Gallery Events vs Art Fairs: Which Is Better for New Collectors?

Njeri Wachira · 2 min read

Art Curation Services: What a Curator Actually Does

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

How to Get the Most From an Art Exhibition

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Emerging Artist Showcase: This Month's Features

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

Virtual Gallery Tours: How to Explore Art From Home

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

Artist Talks & Networking Events: The Monthly Roundup

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

In-Kind Art Gifts: Materials, Studio Space, and Skills

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

The Complete Guide to East Africa's Art Events Calendar

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

The Receipt Test: How to Vet Any Art Cause Before You Give

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Behind the Scenes: How We Curate Our Exhibitions

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Charitable Giving Through Art: A Beginner's Map

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

Donate to Art Events: Sponsoring an Opening Night

The ArtCollect Desk · 1 min read

Fund Art Education: Why Small Recurring Gifts Beat Big Cheques

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

Tax-Deductible Art Donations: What You Can (and Can't) Claim

Njeri Wachira · 3 min read

Donating Your Collection: A Legal & Tax Guide for Kenyan Collectors

The ArtCollect Desk · 4 min read

Corporate Art Donations: A Guide for Businesses

Otieno Odhiambo · 2 min read

Artist Spotlight: Donated Works Creating Change

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

5 Reasons to Donate Art Instead of Money

The ArtCollect Desk · 2 min read

The Impact of Art Charity: Where Your Donations Go

Otieno Odhiambo · 1 min read

How Your Art Donation Supports Our Programs

Njeri Wachira · 1 min read

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Working with county governments across Kenya