Murugi Thande, winner of the 2024 Fluevog Artist Grant, is a multidisciplinary visual artist, photographer, and filmmaker. We recently caught up with Murugi to chat about what she’s been up to since accepting the artist grant this past summer, including her ongoing project, “Under the Kenyan Sun: Memories Shaped in Nakuru”, as well as recently tying the knot in August! (Congratulations!) Murugi’s family joined her in Washington, DC for the momentous occasion. The photo above shows Murugi’s mother (left), cousin (centre), and aunt (right).
“As part of my wedding celebrations, my family made the journey all the way from Kenya to be by my side, including both of my beloved grandmothers. One of them even marked a special milestone — her 85th birthday — during her stay.”
Murugi took this opportunity to learn more about her family’s culture and traditions — specifically those surrounding celebrations — while also documenting important moments for her project, amounting to 10 rolls of film! (The photos shared above are just a small work-in-progress preview and may not reflect the final project.)
“These precious days together allowed me to deepen my connection to my Kikuyu heritage, take part in meaningful ceremonies, and hear treasured stories from my grandmothers’ lives.”
Murugi is currently in the midsts of planning her trip to Kenya and hopes to have travel booked for early next year. So far, Murugi has shot medium format photos and polaroids for “Under the Kenya Sun: Memories Shaped in Nakuru”, saving the use of 35mm and large format media for when she gets to Kenya.
For more of Murugi Thande’s work, check out her website and Instagram.
The Fluevog Artist Grant is a $10,000 fund that supports the creative growth and development of up-and-coming talents in the Fluevog community. If you’re an emerging artist with a project in need of funding, keep an eye out for when applications open for the 2025 Fluevog Artist Grant!
