Chelenge Van Rampelberg

Born in 1961 and raised in Kericho, Kenya, Chelenge Van Rampelberg began her career in painting and sculpture in 1984, without formal art training. Her daily upbringing exposed her to indigenous craft practices, which served as the foundation for her artistic development. A masterful storyteller, Chelenge weaves narratives that are deeply rooted in her own life experiences. Working across painting, printmaking and sculpture, her artistic approach shuttles effortlessly between keen observation and abstract interpretation, enabling her creations to serve not only as personal chronicles but also as profound reflections on the circumstances of our being in the world. Drawing inspiration from her personal experiences and memories, she creates works that reflect human behavior and the vulnerability at the heart of the human condition.

Chelenge Van Rampelberg lives and works in Tuala, on the border of the Nairobi National Park. Recent solo and group exhibitions include NCAI, Nairobi, Kenya (2024); NCAI, Nairobi, Kenya (2022 - 2023); Royal Academy of Art, London, UK (2021); Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany (2020); Alliance Francaise, Nairobi, Kenya (2019); Kichakani, Nairobi, Kenya (2017).