30/09/2026
Art has the power to reclaim public space and elevate women's voices on a global scale.
Through "Through the Eyes of a Woman project,an international Swedish-Kenyan exchange co-facilitated by Hope Raisers and Architecture Without Borders Sweden represented by Pia Jonsson, Kenyan female artists Joan Otieno, Chelagat Chela and Antonette Apondi traveled to Stockholm to co-create and showcase their work internationally, marking an exciting milestone as their first European tour.
Exhibited in both Nairobi and Stockholm, the project brought together:
9 monumental 5-meter painted textiles by Joan, Chela, and Antonette, sharing vivid visual stories of womanhood.
A 12-piece circular wooden structure co-designed with Swedish architect Julia Andersson, re-envisioning the 12 disciples through a female perspective.
Hope Raisers has used cross-cultural art to drive gender equity, giving women artists the skills, mobility, and global platforms to transform public spaces.
Following this initiative, Joan would later partner with other project beneficiaries to found what is today the Warembo Wasanii art collective, a thriving platform empowering female artists to continue creating, collaborating, and reclaiming public spaces together. I
In this short film by SubTopia, Joan shared her perspective on how it is to be woman in Nairobi.
