The Strength Within, Acrylic, Oil and Beads on Canvas, 100 x 100 cm, Angela Wambui, Kenya

In The Strength Within, the artist reflects on the quiet yet unwavering resilience that shapes our inner world. The figure’s poised posture becomes a testament to endurance, while the peony — a flower known for its remarkable resilience — embodies strength born from softness. Surrounding them, hummingbirds, fiercely territorial creatures, they symbolise the instinct to guard what we love: our peace, our boundaries, the people closest to us. Through this interplay of grace and guardianship, the work reveals that true strength is both gentle and fierce; the courage to stand firm, and the instinct to protect the spaces where our hearts reside.

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.