DEVELOPING AS AN ARTIST
Primarily a self-taught artist, Kitamirike was born in the United Kingdom, and raised in his home country, the East
African country of Uganda. Sketching by an early age, Kitamirike’s talents were first recognized by his grandmother
who supported and encouraged his development as an artist.
While in Uganda, the artist became a skilled and sought-after portraitist, receiving numerous commissions from
public figures, politicians, and dignitaries. In the 1970’s, political strife forced the young artist to neighboring Kenya
where his work was influenced by the diverse culture he found there.
The Maasai tribe became one of Kitamirike’s favorite subjects for much of his early work. Experiencing their power,
grace, beauty, and pride left the artist with a lasting respect for the Maasai culture.
KITAMIRIKE’S LEGACY
Through a variety of mediums -- oils, and acrylics on canvas, and combined paint and stains on wood panels, the
artist’s work expresses both his cultural past and present.
Kitamirike’s imaginative and original Synthesism -- his unique harmonizing of divergent styles within the same piece
-- represents a striking innovation that is uniquely Kitamirike.
Collected through galleries in East Africa and the U.S., Kitamirike’s work now graces private collections and public
institutions there and in other parts of the world. The artist also supports selected charitable organizations in the U.
S. and Uganda by contributing some of his unique pieces.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
August- December 2002 Women Emerging: A Tribute to Uganda
University of California-Berkeley, Center for African Studies
Jan.-July 2002 Uganda's International Art Renaissance
THE ART ROOM, San Francisco
June 2001 Uganda's International Art Renaissance
One Market, San Francisco, CA
Nov 2000-Jan 2001 Splendors of Modern East Africa
Sun Microsystems, Santa Clara
Exhibition sponsored by and exhibited at
SunLibrary, SunMicrosystems, Inc.
2000 East Africa in Renaissance Fine Arts Center for East Africa, San Francisco, CA
2000 East Africa’s Modern Art Movement Fine Arts Center for East Africa, San Francisco, CA
1999 Art Expo, New York Puck Building, Soho
1999 Inaugural Exhibit The Art Room, San Francisco, CA
1998 A Cultural Journey in Fine Art Gallery Kilimanjaro, Beverly Hills, CA
1998 From East Africa to North America Gallery 504, San Diego, CA
1998 From East Africa to North America Post Street Gallery, San Jose, CA
1997 Vanishing Heritage African American Cultural and
Historical Society Museum, San Francisco, CA
1995 Group Exhibition Africa-USA Network, Emeryville, CA
1974-1984, Solo Exhibitions Roland Ward Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya
1974-1984, Solo and Group Exhibitions Gallery Watatu, Nairobi, Kenya
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Public Collections:
Kenyan National Archives -- (permanent collection) Nairobi, Kenya
Royal Palace -- (permanent collection) Kampala, Uganda
African American Cultural and Historical Society Museum (permanent collection) -- San Francisco, CA
Fine Arts Center for East Africa (permanent collection) -- San Francisco, CA
Private Collections:
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. -- Harvard University, Landon Williams -- Piedmont, CA, Len Barnhill, FL.
Additional private collections: located in New York, Texas, San Jose-CA, Oakland-CA, San Francisco-CA, Los
Angeles-CA, San Diego-CA, Phoenix-AZ, Durham-NC, London-U.K, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden, Canada
Commissioned Portraits (prominent East African dignitaries)
Cardinal Nsubuga - Ugandan Catholic Church, 1973
Mayor of Kampala, 1974
Author, Okot B. Tek
Bishop Shalita
Mbarara
B. Kisosonkole
Haji Kangave
Family of Bishop Sabune
Kitamirike links
