Rose-Coloured Glasses, Acrylic, Oil and Beads on Canvas, 80.2 x 90.4 cm, Angela Wambui, Kenya

Angela Wambui in Bridging Worlds Through Art

Angela’s work is a profound exploration of self—an artistic journey through the layers of human experience. Each self-portrait invites the viewer to connect with their vulnerabilities and identity, making her art deeply personal and universally relatable.

Her Mixed-Media work captures the delicate balance between the conscious and unconscious realms. Angela combines acrylics and oils to depict the tangible world we navigate daily, in contrast to the beadwork that represents the unconscious world—an intricate tapestry of fears, vulnerabilities, and hidden aspects of self. Through vibrant colours and meticulous placement of her glass beadwork, she creates a powerful dialogue between the seen and unseen aspects of our lives.

In Rose-Coloured Glasses, the artist reflects on the ways we choose to perceive the world — oscillating between clarity and illusion. The work questions our tendency to romanticise life, to soften its harsh edges through idealism and selective vision. Are we truly seeing reality, or do we need the comfort of those tinted lenses to keep moving forward?

Through this introspective piece, the artist explores perception as both a defence and a choice — suggesting that sometimes, seeing the world through rose-coloured spectacles is not denial, but an act of resilience.