Malawian Inspired Art: 2019-2024
Greetings from Lilongwe, Malawi. I hope you’re doing well.
As you may have heard, Malawi is currently grappling with the tragic loss of Vice President Saulos Chilima who died this week in a tragic plane crash. This is a time of deep sorrow for many, and my heart goes out to his family and all those affected by this loss.
In these moments of reflection, I’m reminded of the ways Malawi has inspired my art over the past five years.
The “Warm Heart of Africa” has enriched my palette with its vibrant orange soil and serene powder blue skies. It has reignited my passion for patterns and fabrics, and brought me back to my roots as a fine artist.
Before I move back to Italy in a few weeks, I’d like to share some of my Malawian inspired art and design from my time here that capture the essence of this beautiful country and its influence on my work.
Nthambi and Friends are a set of characters I created for United Nations Population Fund Malawi in 2019. They have appeared in social media campaigns, posters, PSA banners in refugee camps, on mobile clinics, and in their own animated webisodes. See more here.
In 2021, while still making content for UN organizations, I started getting strained eyes from staring at all those screens.
I also caught Covid. Thankfully I never got too ill, but it did force me to consider why I never pursued being a fine artist more fearlessly.
While I was still a 19 year-old art student, I got spooked out of pursuing a fine art career. I saw my peers and professors struggling to make ends meet and achieve promotions or recognition. At that same time, I was working for a gallery owner in Provincetown, MA. who one day up and fled to China to avoid paying his artists and (ahem) faithful gallery assistant!
So I played it safe, switched my focus to digital media, and at the age of 25, became a full-time university professor. My “art” started to become anything that would help me get tenure or a promotion. Not very inspiring!
Long story short, fast forward to Malawi in 2021… I was having the regrets a woman on her deathbed might have, even though I (presumably) still had plenty of life in me.
That’s when I started painting again and making Malawian inspired art. Among the first ones I made were chakra paintings inspired by the wildlife, plants, and chitenje (textile) patterns of Malawi!
It was around this time in August of 2021 that I then launched Ma Kalulu Studio both as a physical studio and also an online gallery/ gift shop.
Which Artwork Do YOU Most Associate With Malawi?
I’m adding a few more Malawian-infused artworks here. Did I leave out your favorite? Please let me know which I should have included by replying in the comments.
I started in late 2021 with Malawian animals (wood carvings usually) with “not to be ignored” chitenje bottlecap backgrounds. Later the Malawian colors and patterns spilled into my sacred geometry series.
To Lead is to Serve: Carved Elephant
Abundant Harvest: Food Security Meditation
There’s also something new I’m working on right now, but it’s still in the very early stages. It will be the 13th in my sacred geometry series. This humble drawing in progress aims to be the most Malawian drawing of all.
It uses the egg of life which symbolizes growth and represents new life, rebirth and fertility.
I’m going to be filling each circle with a chitenje design. The first one stands for the root chakra, and also is a representation of Malawi’s warm heart (in red). I also just started the orange sacral chakra representation. Its chitenje pattern contains light bulbs and gears to show Malawi’s innovation and creativity.
I hope to show you more progress on it soon.
Well, as I pack up my studio in preparation to move to Rome, Italy soon, we decided to take one last trip outside of Lilongwe.
Here are a few images from our trek to Malawi’s last rain forest and Ntchisi Forest Lodge.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Your support means the world, and I’m excited to share more from my new adventures in Italy. Until then, let’s celebrate the beauty and resilience of Malawi together.
Warmest regards,
Kristen
| P.S. Don’t forget to enter to win a free art print this month here. You can also share with a friend for more entries. |
P.S.S. Still thinking about adding positive, vibrant energy to your spaces so you feel and perform at your best or learning how to make your own vibrant art?
Here are 3 other ways that I can help you:
1. Affordable Art Perfect for Gifting: Ma Kalulu Studio’s Gift Shop
2. Self-Paced Online Courses & Live Meet-Ups: Learn Art, Design, Creativity, Branding, Social Media, & More
3. Done For You Services: Bespoke Custom Art & Design Made to Order
I'm an artist and educator who helps unapologetic idealists to create meaningful change through art, design, and education. 