Michael Armitage Brings Africa to Palazzo Grassi with 45 Paintings

The historic Palazzo Grassi, located on Venice's Grand Canal, is currently showcasing a significant exhibition by Kenyan British artist Michael Armitage. This display features 45 paintings alongside more than 100 studies and drawings across two floors, organized by the Pinault Collection, which oversees François Pinault’s art assets. The exhibition will be open for eight months. At 42, Armitage spent his early years in Kenya before moving to Britain for boarding school and art education. His artwork, which merges African and European influences, portrays authentic or imagined scenes from East Africa, reminiscent of Goya or Gauguin. Notably, he utilizes bark cloth from ficus trees, which is susceptible to cracks. In a video interview from Nairobi, where he was joined by his daughter, he spoke about his artistic materials, family heritage, and recent relocation to Indonesia, emphasizing figurative painting as a way to connect with others.